Literary Discussions

2 days ago I have my greatest epiphany : "Barack Obama is the Tiger Woods of Politics"

I was wathcing the evening news, and they had a sound byte from Barack followed by an item on Tiger Woods. I was suddenly struck with this thought and found it amusing.

I suppose I am traditional and conservative because of my personal conviction that EVEN IF THERE IS NO GOD AND NO AFTERLIFE, (and we will probably never be able to prove the existence or the non existence of such things), yet still, the choices we make matter, and we are mean to be "good stewards" of the life and world that is entrusted us, even if there is no "intelligent designer" as personal author of that intentionality.

I once questioned an old Japanese man who was carefully tending his small flower garden, regarding his thoughts on spiritual matters. He simply said, "This is ALL THERE IS, and that is why it is important to make the most of it" and he turned away from me and returned to his flowers.
 

We are called to lives of moral responsibility, even if there IS no voice to author that call.

From Rousseau:

The Vicar claims that the correct view of the universe is to see oneself not at the center of things, but rather on the circumference, with all people realizing that we have a common center. This same notion is expressed in the Rousseau's political theory, particularly in the concept of the general will. In Kant's ethics, one of the major themes is the claim that moral actions are those that can be universalized. Morality is something separate from individual happiness: a view that Rousseau undoubtedly expresses as well.
 

Actually, there are all sorts of Hindu and Buddhist "mudras" or hand/arm gestures, one of which is Abhaya Mudra (Gesture of Fearlessness) which can also mean "have no fear" or "be of good cheer"
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/mudra_abhaya.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra
http://www.buddha-images.com/abhaya-mudra.asp
There is a big deal about clockwise versus counterclockwise and left verses right. Hindus and Buddhists will worship a holy site by clockiwise PRAKIKSHANUM which means to circumambulate with the auspicious RIGHT side always facing the stupa or tirth or mountain. Certain groups would become "protestants" of the first group, and so would do COUNTER-pradikshanum, keeping the left side to the object (in Mecca, the crowd encircles the Kaaba in counter-pradikshanum), and you will see swastikas that are the reverse of one another (Korean swastikas are opposite of Jain, I think). It all has to do with
Jonathan Swifts think about the "big endians/little endians"
 

Jonathan Krohn's address at CPAC:
During the Plato seminars, we often brought up Socrates' distinction between "speaking beautifully" and "speaking truly." This young person is amazing. I am impressed. When he mentions "respect for life", what passes through my mind is undeclared wars, covert operations of assassination, and embargoes of medical supplies that increase infant mortality. I think that alcohol is an evil. I gave it up. But Prohibition caused more problems than it solved, and so it was repealed. The answer to a reduction in abortion lies in turning the hearts of people towards more responsible choices and lifestyles. During the years prior to Rowe vs. Wade, there were long periods of Republican leadership, and the abortions just went underground, along with the speak-easys and the mafia controlled bootlegging industry. Political pundits say that a Barry Goldwater could not exist in todays world. The words conservative, liberal, progressive, Republican, Democrat change and evolve in meaning.-Spin
 

If one stands back an analyzes WHAT is necessary for endless growth and prosperity....

One may see that it is like a Ponzi scheme dream

World war II made prosperity for America (bringing us out of the depression), and set Japan and Europe back for decades....

but, in NYC in the 1980s, there were scores of super high priced Japanese restaurants, with $200 per person meals

because the Japanese businessmen HAD the discretionary income to support such excess

when Japan had an economic crisis, those fancy restaurants disappeared


I dont honestly believe that Obama or anyone else will change the inevitable tides.... but I do honestly believe that Obama was the better man, and that McCain has far more defects of character and intellect

a large segment of American population is anti-intellectual


Well, I hope Obama is the better man in this instance. Obama was good at appealing to the crowd.

they criticized obama as some kind of Merlot sipping, arugala eating Harvard grad

one news commentator complained that he wanted some apple pie beer slurping American who would talk about his bowling game

the earth's ecosystem is doomed, the world economy is collapsing, and the most important issue is abortion and gay marriage... oh please, give me a break

you know what, i havnt had a drop of liquor in 12 months, and never intend to take it again, but Prohibition caused more problems than it solved, and had to be repealed

So, during all the years before Rowe vs Wade, abortion was illegal, and there were decades of Republican leadership, but, there were still abortions, and black market activities


I have a textbook that I purchased because it seemed interesting to read. I'll lend it to you if you're interested but it talks about the history of doctors and how they came to being so prestigious.


Lincoln was the very first Republican candidate, and most of the freed slaves were Republicans, and the Democrats stood on the opposite

So, the parties have changed over the years...

and they say someone like Barry Goldwater, his kind of conservative, could not exist in todays climate

so, conservative does not mean today what it meant in the 1940s or 50s

nor does liberal/progressive mean the same



It really is an interesting read. A lot of research articles about different topics.


they are debating today on tv, about the benefits of offering free medical education

because, the average physician starts practice with a debt of over 200,000

so, they are more centered on money than they are on medicine


John's Hopkins pioneered some weird high fat diet for children with some obscure neurological disorder

Kids who have seizures, so, they go on some kind of bacon grease diet, and it cures them

4 women WALKED across the Antarctic (to set a record), and they had to eat 1 POUND of butter a day, just to replace the calories burned from the cold

which is why Eskimos could eat pure blubber fat, and be healthy


there was a big documentary about it on PBS educational tv

a few years ago

and I remember Johns Hopkins being mentioned

http://www.aan.com/elibrary/neurologynow/?event=home.showArticle&id=ovid.com:/bib/ovftdb/01222928-200905010-00014

here were my search words : johns hopkins children high fat diet convulsions seizures

http://www.newtreatments.org/Epilepsy/ga/181/Epilepsy%20Diet%20Has%20Lasting%20Anti-Seizure%20Effect

In ustream I talked for a long time with a graduate student in the Netherlands

I asked what she thought of Obama

she said, Oh, we like Obama, but, for us Obama is so right wing we see him like you see mccain




http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3938


http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3937


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream


http://www.artsheaven.com/edward-hopper-sunlight-in-a-cafeteria.html

http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/collection/popups/pc_amerps/enlarge20.html