I Did It

I Did It

I did it. It was me who did the deed. Those others, if they existed, who may or may not have helped me, were acting solely on my orders. Orders I enforced at the point of a weapon. Orders I demanded be carried out, or the death- by my own hand- of those who denied them, my orders. I did it.

Too many years have come and gone and seen death, destruction, poverty, ridicule, spite, hate, rape, murder, and a million things worse, all at the hands of their stupid ideals. Ideals that, though some claimed otherwise, never sought the raising up of all men. Ideals that never, though some argued contrarily, sought equality, nor peace. Ideals that imposed restriction above all else. Ideals that imposed hatred, that demanded murder and rape and a million things worse. I ended those ideals. I did it.

I have watched them all my life, and during that time I have had the extreme advantage of knowledge. Knowledge of earlier times, of other lives, where it could also be seen, and had been acknowledged; but nothing was ever done. I made a decision, I designed a plan, and I forced my design upon the face of the world. I killed the religious. I did it.

I plotted, I schemed, I thought, I considered, and I made sure they would all die- but I was merciful, and made sure their deaths would be swift. I will not discuss how I did it. It is not for me to reveal the secrets of how I did it, how I made it so effective, how I- alone- enforced my decision. These things will, eventually, be known, I am sure; but they will not be revealed by me. It is enough that I take full responsibility. I brain washed, I black mailed, I cajoled, I tempted, I begged, I pleaded, and I bribed. I did it.

There were seven billion of us. Now there may be only one of those seven left. I have preserved the histories, the buildings, the words, and I have even allowed those tainted anti-Ideals to survive; but none of those tainted people. Nature does not allow the stupid to survive and thrive, and neither did I. I feel that is why I succeeded so thoroughly in what I did. I did it. I did it. I did it.

I am a monster. This is what will be said, what has already been said, and what will continue to be said. I am a monster, evil and depraved. I will not deny it. I will say my intentions were good; but I do not defend myself, nor my actions. My actions trump my intentions, I have committed vast evil and do not deserve mercy. I acknowledge my responsibility. I acknowledge my horrible guilt. I acknowledge the heinous nature and depravity of my crime. I did it.

I will say, though, that I could have gone another route. No, I could not have let them continue. They had continued on for all of history, and it was time something was done. It was time that a bold and decisive action be made. I could have done something else, however, and deprived those one in seven of their right. Their right to judge me. Their right to sentence me. Their right to punish me. I have shown my inability to act in a civilized manner, though I did what I did out of extreme love for all my fellows. Though I acted to preserve the species, though I did what I thought best, and though there is no evidence that could be presented to point to my actions being anything other than right; I know I did a crime. I did it.

Feelings may be that I am worst of the worst. Ideas may confirm that I am the most horrible ever, and the most horrible possible. Intangibles may sign my death warrant. Facts, however, will not contradict me. Facts will prove my point. Though it was unspeakably vile, I did it in full knowledge of what I was doing, of why I was doing it, and that I was absolutely correct. Only emotion speaks to the contrary. I did it.

Look past emotion. Look past shock. Look past grief, anger, and everything else. Two unassailable facts do, and will always, remain. In one massive and fatal stroke, I freed all of humanity from the bondage of superstition, stupidity, and falsehood. I did it, I killed religion and that petty notion of gods. I did it.

I have no regrets. I could have killed myself, and been spared the humiliation, the torture, and the hate. I could have deprived the survivors of their justice, or made it where that justice could not assail me. Yet, I did not. I did not do those things, though I killed six of every seven and left only the one who was not victim of depraved hallucinations corrupted by some false self-righteous divine grandeur. I did it.

I did it. Me and only me. I am proud I did it, alone though I was.

I did it.

(c) 2008 Tom Hand Read More...

Story

I have decided to write a series of stories exclusively for my blog. The first one is below.


Story

A person does a thing. The person is interesting. The thing is interesting. There are other people involved.

The consequences of the thing are not totally foreseeable. Other people doing other things cause the outcome to vary. Conflicts from the consequences of all the things cause more things to be done. More people become involved, more unforeseen consequences result. Further conflict. It is all tragically/ horribly/ funnily/ excitingly interesting. The permutations are suspenseful. It all seems unjustly/justly random/premeditated.

Something is explained. Things make sense. Realization dawns and new options are revealed. New paths are chosen. Something happens.

A person does a thing.

(c) Tom Hand 2008 Read More...

Olympics

FINALLY!

The olympics are over, and we can all go about ignoring China and Tibet again. THANK, FUCKING, ME! (I, after all, am just as responsible as "God", but I happen to exist).

I enjoyed watching the swimming- I was a swimmer in my youth; and the beach volleyball, and many of the other events. However, I was tired of hearing about China. I have a feeling that they will be the next superpower, due to their current position as such a large producer and consumer. (Larger in both than the US is, in fact). I'm certain to continue hearing whiny little bitches bemoaning the poor treatment of Tibetans- like their ancestral theocracy was any better- and all about how cruel and mean the Chinese government is; but now it won't be all over the place and damn near unavoidable. Well, within a month or two, anyway.

When signing off, the Anchor for NBC- you look him up, I don't care if he has a name, or not- said it was the most memorable olympics he had ever broadcast from. If I remember correctly, he said the same thing about Athens four years earlier. It's bad that, either, the talking heads are so easy to read when they're lying and insincere, or they're so stupid and bad at their jobs that they just sound that way. Of course, there's a third option: I'm a cynical prick who doesn't trust those people. I'm betting it's number three; but I'll only admit to the first two in public!

At least in four years, we'll be able to understand a bit more of the opening and closing ceremonies, we lazy ass English-speaking monoglots. Read More...

Lists

Couple Quickies:

* Hemingway, as if you didn't know, was a fantastic author.

* Dostoevsky, also an excellent writer- though, not as much of my taste as Hemingway.

* Unexpectedly ran into an old friend, last night. It is always great to see an old friend and still be friends with them.

* To-Do:
- Figure out if I can add a template that will make these entries into previews.
- Finish editing, and get ready to mail next story.
- Finish third story, edit it, get it ready for mail.
- Figure out what I'm doing with those 30 pages of text I've been writing for the last two days.
- Invent time travel, go back to last night, find the two beautiful blonds, forgive
them their blondness, enjoy their carnal ministrations. Note to self: figuring out how to convince them to allow me to enjoy their carnal ministrations, is not a side-issue, here. Read More...

Dr Drew

Dr. Drew, long time host of Loveline and anchor of VH1's Celebrity Rehab, sent out a bulletin on Myspace today. He reported an article in the LA Times that, supposedly, casts him in a bad light. He included the email address to an editor at the LA Times, but no link to the Article.

I read it, I don't think it paints him in a bad light. I think it paints an establishments he's connected with in a bad light.

Just something for you to remember: Drug interaction is a VERY serious thing. When entering into any sort of treatment, a full list of all MEDICINES, and SUPPLEMENTS, currently being taken should be provided for doctors. Also, Barbituates- that's alcohol- are more likely to kill you from detox than opiates- that's heroin. So, keep swilling 'em back Rummy! Read More...

Heroes, Protestors, China, and YOU!

Let's get something straight about "heroes" it's not guys in capes, or stupid people with banners, or innocent people who died tragically, or politicians, or people who did what they had to do because they couldn't stand "taking it" anymore. Invocation of "heroes" is the last resort of a desperate argument, and should be treated with suspicion- if not out right contempt.

Maybe you've heard about the Protesters who went to CHINA- fucking look it up- to protest CHINA... Because the Olympics are about this whiny bullshit or that hippie fucktardness; and the Chinese are human rights abusers. Anyway, a couple of them were detained without contact for some time; though, now they've been found and are getting 10 days jail plus deportation. Just because they don't speak-a tha Eng-lash, doesn't mean the Chinese are stupid. Just because they're not democratic, and censor everything, doesn't mean they're not the slightest bit aware of media and marketing. Back to the point, this all sparked huge discussions about China and protesters, and Tibet, and all that shit...

The Olympics isn't about Unity; that's what we who invented the best of it, like to call "Marketing". And Fighting Marketing With Marketing, makes as much sense as "fucking for virginity" (or whatever cliche you'd like, instead). Protesting the actions of an Authoritarian state INSIDE that Authoritarian state isn't smart, nor heroic, nor worthy of praise. It is, however, marketing. Maybe it gets the point across; but is "selling out" the, so called, moral fiber and ethics of "the cause" really worth a tiny bit of press? Invoking Martin Luther King Jr, who so many pro-protestors love to cite, read his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, where he criticizes the moderates. Half-assed measures are for half-assed people and, usually, about half-assed ideas.

More to the point, about Martin Luther King, you may be saying "but he advised direct action and not waiting!" Yes, but how is doing stupid bullshit, that amounts to nothing more than self aggrandizement, direct action? Those protests, and rallies, and fund-raisers.. they don't get seen by the people in China. They don't let the "poor and unfortunate" Tibetans know that the world "has their back". These protests- whatever their form- don't affect the Chinese Government's stance. It's just phony bullshit for guilty westerners to try and feel better about themselves, and get some of that infamous hippie stank. That's not direct action, that's moderation- even when it's done in China. It's not even a particularly clever marketing ploy.

Let's face it, most people today are, fairly, media-savy. We've all got bullshit/marketing detectors. Does anyone really believe the sincerity of someone on an infomercial, anymore? So, staging a stunt probably isn't going to do more than "preach to the choir". Especially when that stunt will only be seen by that choir. And when it sets off the marketing-stunt-detector, it only serves to hurt "the cause".

This is all to say, the protesters are suspect. Doing it for the LULZ, or the smelly hippie lust-pie, or for the self-esteem boost, or because you think it helps (when it doesn't).... How is that noble? How is that worth respect? How is going somewhere and "doing something" that amounts to nothing, any better than going nowhere and sparking an actual debate- where people actually consider what's being said?

Is it good to try and "better the world in which we live"? Sure; but pulling a childish stunt isn't going to help anybody. Oh, it might serve to give the stunter a few fleeting minutes of fame and faux-glory; but that's not helping, that's marketing. Everybody sees it as the bullshit it is; and unless the viewer already agrees, it won't change anyone's mind.

So, that's the case for why everyone else is a stupid fucking moron. Nevermind the cases for why the Dhali Lama is a douche bag hypocritical scumbag; and the fact that "Ancient Tibetan society" was a theological-monarchy where the priest caste owned everyone as chattel. Fuck whether we need to clean up our own Trail of Tears bullshit before we start bitching at China about moving Han into Tibetan areas.

If you want to effect change, here's how: Fuck 'em in their economy. Lobby your local federal representatives to put conditions against Human Rights Abuse on Trade Packages with China. Lobby the world bank, and every other institution, to force China to free it's currency, which is currently pegged to a percentage of the US Dollar. Don't buy Chinese goods. Learn Chinese, move to China, educate the masses, and start a new revolution.

Don't expect praise for being stupid. Don't get sanctimonious about how your bullshit is "making a difference". Don't try to convince me- I enjoy and implement critical thinking, with a healthy dose of realism. Above all, don't be stupid and/or naive. Read More...

Strongest Right Arm EVER!

Fuck. My friend Scott showed me this, from Reuters... all I can say, is click the link and watch the video.

Aug. 21 - A Chinese man recovers from surgery that removed part of his facial tumours, which weigh more than 20 kilogrammes in total.

Read More...

The Olympics

I like the olympics as much as the next person. Watching those amazing athletes striving for personal perfection, and global accolades, is great. The beauty of the human form is on showcase, every four years- Beach Volleyball, Swimming, Gymnastics, Ping Pong...

But let's get some shit straight:

1) Calling those 15, 16, 17 year old girl children "Women" and their highly bullshit scoring based heavily on ability "artistic", in gymnastics, is fucking creepy and hypocritical, at BEST.

2) These highly trained, professional, living works of art competing, is simply a prettier- more socially acceptable form- of watching two crackwhores fight over a rock; but it's not more entertaining.

3) The "O"lympics isn't about peace, love, unity, or any of that other hippie vag-crust. It's about the money. Don't believe me? Look at the price for tickets to events. Look at the endorsement deals those athletes are vying for; and look at what financial information the International Olympic Committee makes public, makes public but hides deep in arcane accounting documents, and keeps hidden.

4) Ping Pong is not a sport- neither is "Baseball". Sure, I can't beat even the worst Ping Pong player in the olympics.... but I can't beat your 6 year old cousin, either. Ping Pong and Baseball are games of skill- like billiards, darts, and chess. Go look up the definition of "sport" and you'll see they all fit- even Jeopardy can be a sport- but that doesn't make it so. If you can play it in a climate controlled building, and the majority of the players don't break a sweat from the actual exertion required by the game: it's not a fucking sport.

5) Why do you think they've added Beach Volleyball, BMX, and various other "extreme" sports to the Olympic roster? Money, maybe?

6)Competition does not breed unity, peace, and understanding. It breeds the need to beat any and everyone else playing. Equality doesn't force ratings of the players. We already have an olympics where everyone is a "winner" we call them the "Retard" Olympics, and they take place after(?) the Para Olympics.

7) The IOC has, historically, loved a bit of controversy. (Remember the 1936 Berlin Olympics? You really think GERMANY wasn't controversial with the Nazis and the fact that WWI- in which they played the part, reprized by Hitler in WWII: Electric Boogaloo, of the bad guys- fucked 'em not 20 years before?)

8) More proof of money and controversy: Some sports allow PROFESSIONALS- like Basketball- while others don't. Why? The Olympics was, (somewhat) originally, supposed to be about amateur athletes.

9) Yes, as a matter of fact, Micheal Phelps did kill your daddy, back in 'Nam; because that Phelps motherfucker is badass.

10)Kerri Walsh will always be hotter than you; and be able to kick your ass at volleyball.


There you have it, dear readers, the olympics is bullshit. Just like everything else. But, if you cry about it, it might change.

Also, check out Charlie Stross' ideas for the London games in 2012. Read More...

Tibet

How can I put this gently?

FUCK TIBET.

The Tibetans have a hard time with the PRC. Like they had it easier when their priest-class hoarded everything and beat them at their whim?

Tibetans can, each, take a big long suckle of my hairy, stinking, testicle sack. Let 'em rot! That's what they get for not having the common decency to die out, or be born American, like a civilized people!

Well, maybe not exactly; but still, fuck them. They're the pet people of guilty rich people trying to make themselves feel better by championing a down-trodden indigenous people. Plus, since the fall of Soviet Russia, we've kinda been hoping the People's Republic of China would kindly step up and fill the shoes of "obvious evil fucking bad guys." So, champion Tibet, and you're helping the morale of your country, you patriotic fuckface.

You wanna impress me, Mr. Millionare? Go get a limb removed by one of the humble downtrodden indigenous people of Iraq.

Sounds a bit Republican, yeah? Well, just for good measure, FUCK THEM, TOO!

Look, I don't give a fuck about Tibetans for reasons that are more their clear to anyone who cares to look past rhetoric and pay attention to fact. Sure, the Chinese Regime is evil fucking dickheads. Fine, fine, whatever. Maybe we should face up to some of our history, before we go preaching high and mighty at others? Or, if that's not appealing to you, maybe we should deal with the millions of Americans who suffer from lack of shelter, food, or adequate health coverage; before we go shitting in somebody else's sandbox.

Is it because I hate LBDs? (Little Brown Dudes). No, last time I checked there were brown, yellow, red, white, and screwed all in this country, too. I just think it's hypocritical to send thousands of dollars around the world to "help". Especially when that same money could, I dunno, ACTUALLY do some good for poor, starving, people a little closer to home.

Stop fighting socio-political "wars" in other countries, when there are still battles that need fighting here at home. How hypocritical is it of us to tell the chinese how to deal with some incredibly small group of their people when WOMEN in America still don't get paid as much as men? Note that there are probably more Women in America, than Tibetans in... Tibet.

Take your guilt and kill yourself, if it's so bad you just gotta "DO SOMETHING!". Remember, it's only illegal if you FAIL. Read More...

Rough Couple Days

Sorry for the lapse. Two family members have recently purchased houses, and I was busy securing my own shelter situation. Needless to say, I've whored myself out and secured a roof over my head for, at least, another year.

Regular Service to resume shortly. Read More...

Doctor Gonzo, I Presume

Supposedly, Hunter S. Thompson said- long before he died- that it would be unbearable if he didn't know he could end it at any time. He was a smart man. More importantly, he had a flair with the language.

Robert Frost, too, had a knack for words. He said:

And were an Epitaph be my story
I'd have a short one ready for my own.
I would have it written of me on my stone:
I had a lover's quarrel with the world

It's very late, and I'm very tired; and I've no idea why my thoughts run to death. I would like to point out, these words, though morbid, are very beautiful; and I find it hard to imagine that man shall ever be more graceful than when facing death beautifully.

Good Night, World.
I shall see you in the morning.

(P.S. I shall fish-fuck your corpse back to life just to torture you back to death if I'm woken before I'm ready. Smiles.) Read More...

Fucking better be...

I have predicted that Watchmen will suck because it's title is not Alan Moore's Watchmen. If you can trust Kevin Smith, you might beg to differ:

I saw “Watchmen.” It’s fucking astounding. The Non-Disclosure Agreement I signed prevents me from saying much, but I can spout the following with complete joygasmic enthusiasm: Snyder and Co. have pulled it off.

Remember that feeling of watching “Sin City” on the big screen and being blown away by what a faithful translation of the source material it was, in terms of both content and visuals? Triple that, and you’ll come close to watching “Watchmen.” Even Alan Moore might be surprised at how close the movie is to the book. March can’t come soon enough.

Found, via WWdN:IE Read More...

Assumption

I'll assume, if you're reading this, you already know that the CNN and MSNBC email alerts stacking up in your junk mail folder are bogus. They link to very authentic, bogus, pages, and try to get you to download malware. Delete them, mark them as spam, whatever- don't open them.

(Been seeing these for, at least, a week now in gmail. Didn't think to say anything until Wil Wheaton made me do it! Read More...

Individualism

Individualism seems to already be taken. That's unfortunate, what else would you call someone who is opposed to context loading people based on trivia- such as: skin color, nationality, gender, beverage preference?

I propose any of the following: Smart, Not-Retarded, Genius, Brilliant, Asshole-but-Right, Smarter, Smartest, Smart-ist, Fucking Smart, okay? Do you get it, yet?

Branding is always a problem. Dawkins, for instance, proposes a branding of atheism similar to the context change of the label "gay" that came about in the 1980s and 90s. He's got a point, about changing contexts, and how it changes general reactions. It seems obvious, to me. (Just so we're clear: the adoption of "Brights" never seemed all that 'bright' to me.)

So, instead of adding another arbitrary label, I have found a new name for my ideal: people. Acceptable substitutes include "person", "persons", "human", "humans", "homo sapiens", et cetera.

I am a People. A Person. A human. And fuck you, you are too. Read More...

The Problem with Steampunk

I have always seen steampunk as a problem. I, whose mind is often overtaken with the wonder and the breadth of the universe; whose mind contemplates the diversity and gently complexity of the distant nebulae. I could never understand it.

Today, I went down to the public library and while searching through their used book store, found a copy of Bradbury's I Dream the Body Electric. There's a story there, called "Downwind of Gettysburg" and I realized something. Steampunk is an off shoot, composed of disillusionment with the future, and disgust with the present. It's reverse escapism.

Since the "Golden Age of Science Fiction" in the 20th Century, we've all been waiting around for the future to get here. Instead of every car a helicopter- or spaceship- we get another energy crisis, the snide lying that is the "Green Movement", and ecological indulgences. Our future isn't here, yet; and the one we see looks bleak- so, instead, we look back to lay blame on our forebears.

We say: "See what they could have done? See what grandness they squandered waiting for dreams that could never become reality? Those were the good ol' days, when the future wasn't an idiot in the white house, a war no one wanted, and no flying cars." I am, I'm sure, not the first one to notice this, astute navel gazing. Nor am I the first to point out that these are not new conditions; but a repeating cycle of disappointment with the present and fear of the future.

Instead of wishing we could go back to the past, not care about the tons of coal it took to run a "modern industrial city"; not understand why so many people died of the consumption; not allow the women-folk, the black-folk, or the brown, or the yellow-folk to stand up and be counted; I, still look to the future.

We may never have flying cars; but we might. We may never have faster-than-light travel, or teleporters, or huge private space stations. But we might. In the "Golden Age" of Sci-fi, no one foresaw the advent of the internet. It was not imaginable that we would be so similar, yet have the connectivity and usefulness of cell-phones. Though we were very scared of the impending ice age, no one ever thought that we would be more worried about cooking ourselves and overheating the planet around us.

The future is not here yet, and when we get there, the future will still be yet-to-come. But, the present is just fine by me. In a couple months, scientists will re-create conditions similar to those mere billionths of a second after the big bang. We may, yet, add another 7, or more ,dimensions to the space-time we experience in only 4. Other scientists are slowly understanding how proteins fold, and why we have these minds we take for granted and fill with such useless crap. It's already been a couple years since implanting electrodes into the brains of certain types of blind people has let them "see". Who knows what's yet to come? Worse- who would really want to know it all, before it happened.

Frank Herbert imagined a person who would always know what the next instant held. A person who would always see what was yet to come, doomed to relive the future, in the present; never a surprise to be had. I agree with Mr. Herbert: I think it'd be mind-numbingly boring. Yet, trying to relive a past, just seems... silly.

We already know where we've been; why re-imagine where we could have gone? It seems like crying over spilled milk, to me. But who am I to talk? I love living in my future worlds that will never be...

It's just, staring at our collective navel will never seem as, even minimally, productive as stretching towards a future, with an eye on the sky. Read More...

The Olympic Syndrome

Since the Olympics started, last Friday, I've been wondering when the media would start in on the Chinese aspect. It appears boxing will be the leader. I just finished watching the last round on CNBC. The commentators were discussing a match between USA's Rau'shee Warren and Korea's Oksung Lee.

The least box-drunk of the two commentators- and one of those sorry saps looked like he had trouble standing up- started the discussion. They both agreed that it could have been a miscommunication with the corner, and that the USA boxing team was having a lot of problems in these games. Scoring was mentioned several times.

What Happened?
Warren and Lee were tied after each of the first three rounds. During the last thirty seconds, while his coaches say they were yelling "Punch!", Warren dodged and evaded. It looked like he thought he had a one point lead, agreed both comentators. The video seemed to agree. It wasn't until the last 5 seconds, or so, that Warren seemed to realese he was down by a point, and started trying to go after Lee. Lee won 9-8.

Maybe this is simply a case of on boxer being better than the other. It's a possibility; but unlikely. Warren won the World Championship last year in Chicago. According to CNBC's website, Warren is the first boxer two-time Olympic boxer since the 1970s. The commentators, though they danced around it, kept coming back to scoring- finally saying it was "a discussion for another [time]."

It's not just a controversy with a couple of commentators. According to CNBC: "Chinese boxer Gu Yu beat [2007 world championship] bronze winner Joe Murray of Great Britain 17-7. The victory avenged Gu's loss to Murray at last year's world championships in Chicago that prevented him from going to the medal round. [...] British coach Terry Edwards criticized the judges following the bout, claiming the 'scores were very generous for China.'"

During the Warren-Lee fight the scoring wasn't just off against the USA. According to the commentators, Warren had a couple of solid punches that weren't scored; but Lee had a solid hit that Warren got the point for. It will be interesting to see how the media covers this once no one is scared the Chinese government will kill their reporters. Read More...

Choosing Stupid

Choosing Freedom... Choosing Freedom... Irene Gravenhorst is nuts.

Doubt it?

This is the story of a crazy Canadian woman who claims the law, the gocernment, and everyone else in authority is out to get you! Watch the video below, to see her insanity for yourself:


Right... So... We live on the land because we don't breathe water... Spiritual..... The universe talking to people.... And some valid points- a judicial document isn't official without a signature; but....

Maybe her claims have some legal grounding- I'm no lawyer. It seems to me, however that she loses her grounding by disavowing "maritime" laws, promoting this "common law" idealism, and then quoting international treaty- signed by the government. Common law, according to wikipedia: "refers to law ... developed through decisions of courts and similar tribunals, rather than through legislative statutes or executive action."

Courts don't sign international treaties.

Anyway, it's interesting due to her obvious insanity- if nothing else. Also, pay close attention to how she starts shilling for her line of seminars and bullshit- all available at a reasonable price, I'd bet. Read More...

Insurance

Health insurance is a big deal. The costs to cover an individual, or family, have been on the rise for a while, now. Malpractice insurance, for the health care workers, is also rising. Some advocate universal health care; others reflexively oppose anything they see as "socialist". It's a tangled mess.

There are ideas that medical insurance should be mandatory, like auto insurance. This is, by far, the stupidest possible outcome, in my opinion. Look at what happened when auto-insurance was mandated:

Politicians mandated a minimum amount- which changes state to state- based on what the average poorest people with cars could afford. They passed legislation, backed by the insurance companies, and rates went up. Rates went up because the insurance companies said demand went up. Demand went up because tickets were being given out. Tickets were being given out because politicians passed legislation, backed by the insurance companies. And the minimum amount of insurance cost those poorest people more than what was accounted for by the politicians.

Who cares? Poor people don't vote. They're stupid, and lazy, and poor. Fuck them!

The insurance companies- people who only care about profit- dictate to hospitals and doctors what procedures can be done, what testing can be done, and generally how to give those patients care. Read that again. The people whom only care about making money are the same people who decide how patients are treated. Conflict of interests? I'd say so; add to it that insurance companies continue to make money hand over fist. Though I'm not against companies making money, I do become concerned when it's at the expense of their customers.

Recently, a source involved with the administration of a local hospital told me that insurers would no longer cover ANY aspect of a hospital stay if the patient were injured. That means, if a patient gets out of bed, trips, falls, and breaks their leg- the insurance company won't cover the emergency appendectomy that was the cause for hospitalization. This is on top of their current Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to not cover any aspect of care required because of the injury. This means more costs to hospitals, and less funds to hire more nurses and other staff.

The American Journal of Nursing recently reported that insurance companies were going to stop coverage of hospital acquired infections in September of 2008. The number of infections not covered is due to increase in March of 2009. My source qualified the effect insurance companies already have over hospitals: "They get us coming and going."

Insurance companies dictate how many tests a doctor can run on a patient; and what kind of tests those can be. Instead of using the latest, most accurate, and- often- most expensive tests; the doctor is forced to use an older version that may be less reliable and is, definitely, cheaper. Of course, the doctor could always do a different version of the test, one not covered by the insurer, and pass the cost onto the patient- who probably already pays considerable amounts to be insured. However, this isn't a satisfactory solution, for many reasons.

One of the most common reasons for bankruptcy is debt from bills associated with health care. Adding more debt onto someone who, if the condition is serious- or debilitating- enough, is already missing work, is not going to help that person's recovery. Many studies have shown that stress can slow recovery in otherwise healthy patients. Additionally, doctors and patients often don't know how much a procedure, or test, will actually cost.

It does seem unfair that our government pays hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars to fight a hugely unpopular war, while refusing to give basic preventative health care to its own citizens. Mandating coverage isn't going to fix the problem of rising health care costs. Mandating insurance, as it has in the past, only puts more power in the hands of Insurance Companies. Whatever the solution may be, it's not requiring health insurance. Read More...

Atheism Symbol

Pharyngula has up a discussion of "teh newerest a the ist" graphic. It sucks, to say the least.



The commenters over there compare it to a Star Trek symbol, and an @ symbol.

Frankly, they're both right. I though @ symbol, myself. That's fucking stupid. We're so unique we make stylized ASCII art to represent ourselves. I'd really like to see who at the Atheist Alliance International convention voted for this. More importantly, I'd like to see what the OTHER submissions looked like.

I'm not opposed to a symbol, per se; but I am opposed to shitty symbols.

I think a line of symbols would be appropriate:
A picture of "Christ of the Cross", in a circle, with a line through it.
A picture of the "Star of David", in a circle, with a line through it.
A picture of "Something Muslim/Hindu/Budhist/Other", in a circle, with a line through it.

Not good enough? How about:

A big middle finger raised triumphantly, with a caption: "We Actually Know" Read More...

Random Crap

NationStates (http://www.nationstates.net) is bothering me, but only a little. There's no negative repercussion from dismissing an issue, so I dismiss more and more. The last 4 days I think I've dismissed every issue. I wish there was more code behind it, it'd make it more engaging. Here's keeping my fingers crossed for NationStates2, coming out later this year.

Cannot watch Tennis. For one, the females are gorgeous, and I stop watching the game, rather quickly. Not their fault, completely my bad- but a "con" I can definitely put up with. The bigger reason: the commentators. Commentators tend to be fucking retards, anyway. It's worse when their mics are turned up so loud there's that constant humming static; and you can hear when they open and close their mouths because of the clicky smacking sound. That fucking sound drives me nuts! DRINK SOME FUCKING WATER! Lick your lips, something; but don't give commentary while we can hear that shit. At least, have some fucking respect- and a modicum of decorum- and shoot yourself in the face if your lips are that sticky! I want to watch that pretty Czech lady lose horribly to Venus Williams, who couldn't serve for shit today...

Lastly:
The drinking is good for me. Really. It makes me less likely to randomly lash out and destroy the ego of someone sitting close to me. However, if you're the stupid hooker at the bar who likes to repeatedly ask me "How would you like it if I played Britney Spears?" The drinking isn't good for you. In light of that development, some casual responses:

"Continue being a cunt and I'll insult you until you cry and go home."

"How much does it suck that you have to get your boyfriend totally hammered before he can get up enough desperation to attempt putting his half-flaccid soft-on anywhere near that biological contamination zone you call a twat?"

"Do you fuck your daddy with that cheese smelling gutter wound; or is he back-door only?"

"Whore, do you charge more to eat the ejaculate of a hobo with a UTI, or do you consider the extra protein gratuity?"

"Could you, please, Please, PLEASE, go to the bathroom and give yourself a Clorox Douche? I can smell rotting cheese all the way over here."

More important than a good insult, is to insult someone the owner and bartenders dislike. Also, pissing them off enough to get bitchy with the bartender- who promptly throws them out- is worth extra points. You have your homework assignment... Read More...

Hammering it Home

The LHC (Large Hadron Collider) is probably the coolest thing that's going to happen this year. It's getting switched on September 10, and the big "'splodo" is due October 21. Personally, I can't wait.

I am a physics geek. I love physics. To quote the man, from the laserdiscs in high school: "Physics is Phun!"

However, most people are not physics geeks, don't understand much about physics- or how we know what we know- and probably haven't been anticipating the LHC in quite the same way as I have. Though, those same people have probably heard about it. They've probably heard that the LHC will kill the world.

If the wikipedia article (linked above) isn't enough to dissuade that type of fuzzy logic, alarmist claptrap, and general Bullshit! (to quote Penn & Teller); I provide the resources to further refute the doomsayers: The Extremely Long Odds Against the Destruction of Earth

So, next time someone jokes (No one seriously speaks this shit, amirite?) about how the LHC is going to destroy the world; why not respond by shooting them in the face? Then they won't have to worry about it. Or, if jailtime isn't your bag, ask them if it hurts to be so pedantically pompous and- yet- uninformed, at the same time.

And now, rap:
Read More...

Georgia v Russia

The cyberwar aspect of the on-going conflict:

At this point, cyberwar is merely a new adjunct to traditional communication blockades and attempts to jam enemy propaganda channels; I haven't seen any reports of attacks on SCADA systems or attempts to crash enemy logistic infrastructure (although if such attacks were ongoing it's likely that we wouldn't hear anything about it until afterwards). It's still at the stage of air war in 1914.

(Charlie Stross) Read More...

Nation States: The Revenge!

Just heard, Nation States 2 to be released later this year (2008, for those of you unsure). From the website:

It's taken five years of discussion, plans, tears, hopes, trials, and floundering, but at last it's come together: I have the right people working on the right design.

Five years ago, I created NationStates in my spare time, never expecting it to find the popularity it has. I actually designed it to be a passing fancy, something you might find fun for a little while, then move on.

With NS2, the design from day one has been all about longer-term gameplay. While the core principles of NationStates haven't changed — micromanagement is still a dirty word, diplomacy is the focus, and customization rules — NS2 greatly expands your nation's ability to affect its world. It's all about giving you top-level control and letting you take your nation wherever the hell you want.

Read More...

Saturday

I give you a song. It is a song who's chorus we've all lamented many many times.



(This is also available at her MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/jennyowenyoungs) Read More...

Demotivators

Because I Love You...





... And My Love Hurts Read More...

Water-bed Phenomenon

Imagine a nice, cover-less, water-bed. If one area is pressed down, another area rises. Water is not a rarefied fluid; but imagine it was. Imagine if the water in that imaginary water-bed was as rarefied, as spacious, as an idea.

The properties would, in our imaginary water-bed, remain the same: squeeze one part and another would rise.

The only way to stop this action would be to squeeze from all sides. Ubiquitous compression would be the only way to truly reduce the volume of space occupied by the medium inside our water-bed- our idea.

Discrimination is an idea. The minds of all people, could be said to, have a volume. The struggle against discrimination is the reduction, in volume, of the discrimination idea. The less volume an idea has, the less it affects, and effects, the people whose minds it occupies; and the less minds it occupies.

Individualism is the idea that solitary compressions, though useful, will never succeed in true de-rarefaction. Individualism, therefore, is the fight against all forms of characterization-value. In other words, Individualists believe that your preference for drinks means as much about you as your gender, sexulaity, shade of your skin, or your ancestry. Read More...

Causality

Even "first" causes have a cause. Read More...

I Hate Apple

I hate Apple. A lot of this hate is generated from the fanatical bullshit spewed by avid mac-lovers. I'm not exactly a Microsoft fan- matter of fact, I laugh loud and vindicatedly whenever I see the stories of how XP is still out-selling Vista.

And don't get me started on the sheer fucking balls of those stupid "'Hi I'm a Mac.' 'And I'm a PC.'" commercials. I'm fairly resigned to the fact that commercials are full of lies- much like governments. And just like governments, I get especially pissed when the lying is blatant and not covered-up. I don't necessarily want commercials that don't lie- mainly because I doubt that will EVER happen without HUGE amounts of censorship (if even then). I do want ad agencies to at least make the attempt to obfuscate their bullshit. Laziness is unbecoming in politicians and whores. (Is there a difference there?)

Further proof that Apple is just as bad- or worse- than Microsoft, especially after their recent DNS debacle (originally found at Wired.com), is this (from Slashdot.org). Apple isn't paying its people their overtime.

Let's state this clearly, so everyone can hear it:
There is absolutely nothing a Mac can do that a PC can't do just as well. PCs are far more expandable and upgradeable than Macs. There are no problems on PCs that aren't on Macs. Linux is a better solution than both.

I still use Microsoft XP Pro because it's idiotically simple. And most people/businesses in the US also use MS- so portability of programs and file types is simpler. (Yes, that does mean I hate Java, so what?) Read More...

The Fauna of Rural Life

I live in the country. There are large fields behind the house. When I was kid, the road was gravel- it was paved when I was 9. When we first moved in, the road changed from gravel to dirt at the edge of our property.

The house was built by my stepdad and his friends. It's not exactly full of modern convenience. As my mother recently put it: "[My mother and stepdad] went through a time where [they] thought that [they] didn't need the modern trappings of the middle class." Apparently, those trappings include central heating and air, a dishwasher, and energy efficiency.

We deal with lots and lots of animals, out here; and always have. This is, of course, excepting the pets we've had over the years (ducks, cats, dogs).

Inside the house: Mice, Spiders (about 8 or 9 species, including Black Widow, Brown Recluse, Wolf Spiders, and [what I think are] Hobo Spiders), Praying Mantis (usually a small green one [about 2 inches long] and a bigger grayish one [about 3.5 inches long], Daddy Long Legs, Ticks, Fleas, Carpenter Ants, Borer Beetles, Bumble Bees, Wasps (mostly Red Wasps), various Flies, Snakes (mostly rat snakes) [yes, inside the house], Beetles, Walking Sticks, Termites, Silverfish, Post-hole Beetles, and the occasional bird. Probably missed some...

Outside: All of the inside stuff, Deer, Turtles (Box, and Snapping), Foxes, Opossum, Skunks, Hornets, Fire Ants, Rolly-polly's, Caterpillars (at least 4 or 5 species), Cow Killer Ants, various Frogs and Toads [and their various stages of growth], various Birds (Woodpeckers, Hummingbirds, Robins, Black Birds [especially migratory flocks], Blue Jays, Canadian Geese, Hawks, etc), Mosquitoes, various Beetles, Gnats, Chiggers, Bats, Squirrels, Chipmunks, and I've definitely missed some...

I plan to start cataloguing my fauna encounters, daily. We'll see how that goes... Read More...

Bechdel's Law

"Alison Bechdel, cartoonist and author of Dykes to Watch Out For, has an interesting observation on movies — a little test she applies to them. It's a very short checklist, viz:

1. Does it have at least two women in it,

2. Who [at some point] talk to each other,

3. About something besides a man."

Originally found via Charlie Stross (Why the Antipope?)

Read More...

Never Back Down (movie)

The Premise: MMA update of Karate Kid.

The Result: Ehh... 51.9 of 100

The Review:
First, the good bits... Djimon Hounsou- always awesome. Pretty scenery, pretty boys, pretty girls, pretty special effects. Good music. Some correct terms, and accurate training depictions, from MMA.

The bad... I'll give it to you as an anecdote, before discussing the part that really irked me. The Anecdote: I was bored with the movie pretty quick, so while my sister watched it On Demand, I nipped out for a smoke. Then, a new glass of tea. Then, another smoke. You get the idea. At one point, I came back into the living room and said I just wanted to see the main character's best buddy get beaten up. When it happened, she asked if I'd seen it in the preview. I said "No." She asked how I knew it was going to happen. The movie was predictable as all hell, that's how I knew.

The problem was even when they looked like they might be doing something new, it was just a new style of transition into the same-old-same-old. Which was annoying. Though, I did give them the 0.9 for, at least, trying... a little.... about 0.9 out of 100, worth.

Then, skip to the final fight, and its build-up. There's a problem with the MMA stuff that the writer's weren't aware of, I think. The final tournament had, basically, the same rules as the original UFC tournament. No eye-gouging, no biting. (The movie adds "no crotch shots"). Yet, none of these amateur fighters apparently studied Royce Gracie. The Gracies who were mentioned as part of the credentials for Mr. Miyagi... err... Jean Roqua. Royce Gracie DOMINATED the UFC, back then. Look at his wikipedia page, notice how it mentions his opponents were bigger than him? Yet in the movie, no one even attempts to emulate his style. They have a capoeira jackass they make fun of- he gets knocked out easily; but no Gracie emulators, not even anyone wearing a gi.

Could this be that Gracie sucks in the modern rules of the UFC? I'd say it's doubtful. Gracie could win if he was allowed to have 45 minute bouts lying on the ground, him and his opponent barely moving. The UFC changed its rules, in part, to keep that from happening- it's not exactly fun for the average person; it is for MMA geeks, but what aspect of MMA isn't? No, I think the reason is obvious: Royce Gracie's style isn't action-packed. That's fair; but add some fucking rules, then! Don't forget about the most influential fighter from the UFC- the only real MMA organization mentioned in the movie- especially when he was dominate in the era of the UFC with, almost, the EXACT same rules!

The characters were all basic, flat, and as expected. If you're an MMA geek, the movie will disappoint. If you're not an MMA geek, you love action movies, and you never figure out what's going to happen next; you'll love it. Otherwise, give it a pass until you're bored and it's on a channel you're already paying for... Read More...

Misogyny/Misandry is Stupid

I oppose feminism because, though it has worthy ideals, I think it promotes genderism.

Misogyny and Misandry are both, equally, stupid.

I submit that most of these problems extend from the concept of "hierarchy"; which is not a new idea. Another idea that isn't new is that religion is where hierarchy gets its legitimacy.

Hierarchy is, basically, the idea that somethings are inherently better, or worse, than some other things. It's the idea that opinion is factual.

You like bananas more than apples? That'd be because bananas are better than apples; not just some personal preference. How could anyone not see that bananas are better than apples? Do bananas have poisonous cyanide in them? No! That's because bananas are better than apples.

Hierarchy, in my opinion, is something inherent to the human species. It's inherent to most species of mammal. Wolves resolve into hierarchal packs, so do most- if not all- primates. It's one of those things that children get without being taught. Evolutionarily it probably helped out an ass-ton. Unfortunately, it just leads to problems, now; and like selfishness- another "instinctual" behavior of children- it should be conditioned against.


Religion, however, reinforces this. Catholics think Protestants have it wrong. Sunnis argue against Shiites. Orthodox Jews disagree with Reformist Jews. Theravada or Mahayana? Shaivism or Smartha? Gardenarian or Odyssean? LeVayan or Theistic? This one or That one?

The point is that, regardless of open warfare, one says it is right and the other is wrong. It never just accepts that it's all bullshit kept over from the infancy of our species. Let me focus on Christianity and Wicca, the two I'm most familiar with.

Some denominations of Christianity do not suggest that followers of other denominations aren't going to goto heaven, or are in any way bad. However, they do disagree about translation or interpretation. Suggesting that one translation/interpretation of dubious documents is correct. That would make the others "wrong". Wrong, as we all know, is never as good as Correct.

Wicca is even easier to illustrate. Though it may have changed now- nearly ten years since I paid attention- Gardenarians were once strictly opposed to anyone who was "Solitary". In order to become a person of status inside the tradition, one had to be accepted into an accepted coven. A lot of other Traditions had their own ways of gaining internal status- the smarter ones, in my opinion, being those that recognized how often Wiccans were/are solitary practitioners.

Religion reinforces the idea that PERSONAL OPINION conveys MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE.

So does nationality, the idea of "race", and other phenomena. But which one is oldest? Religion loves to parade its age around; like being from a time when people thought farts were an indication of possession makes you fucking smart.

I ask you a different way: Which causes more strife, world wide, today? Religious Wars or Wars of Nationality or Political Wars? (Examples: Jihad against America or Germany's insane Nationalistic view which is oft cited as a reason for WWII or The Cold War, respectively) Which one, throughout history?

It's complex, sure. The Nazis were out to destroy the Jews, too. Many religious wars are fought for what seems to be political reasons. Isn't Nationalism just a form of Politics?

But it all comes back to Hierarchy. That is the problem.

Individualists, in my opinion, should fight against hierarchy. The problem is: it can be useful. Too many Generals giving different orders only leads to chaos. "Too many cooks spoil the pot".

But, there are definite time when Hierarchy is reprehensible: genderism, sexualityism, racism, et cetera.

Let's worry about how to balance usefulness with uselessness. Keep your religion private. Who fucking cares about which Political Party you support? You skin color is simply the macroscopic effect of chemicals in your epidermis. Your ancestry is only important to you, and your family, and should be shameful to discuss in public. Your nationality simply refers to where on the planet you live, which language(s) you are more likely to speak, and what political system you live under.

I say: Rail against the dying of the individual.
I say: Fight against chance and circumstance as defining forces.
I say: Be an Individual, and let everyone else do the same.

The greatest idea that has ever come out of the United States is best put as:
"The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (frmr Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)
Read More...

Why?

I've been reading a lot of feminist essays recently. I particularly look for things about feminism that are not about feminism itself. Ideally, feminism is simply about stopping oppression; and essays to that effect are easily agreeable. Essays about the modus operandi of feminism often frustrate, annoy, or anger me. I tend to agree with Post-feminist movements, rather than the so-called Second and Third Waves. I look for things like: Women in Refrigerators. This is, sort of, a discussion of what something may mean, if it means anything. It involves people's conceptions- projecting their thought processes. I find that interesting, and easier to remember as opinion.

I, also, actively seek discussion with non-professional feminists. I am, often, guilty of taunting them, which is bad manners- but nothing more. (Bad Manners is its own topic, for later). However, I run into a lot of elitism, faulty logic, basic philosophy, credulity, and ignorance.

For instance: (from WiR, linked above, Joan Hilty's Response):
You only need to have the faintest grasp of feminist or semiotic theory to know that it's not just how often [death, sexual abuse, and other heinous acts against woman-kind is] done, it's HOW it's done and TO WHOM certain things are done. The sexually violent visual language of how these women get killed is remarkably consistent. Really, the larger reality is that American mainstream comics, built by guys for guys on the crumbling foundations of superhero fantasy, remain intensely hostile to women, consciously and subconsciously. As political and cultural landscapes shift and evolve worldwide and it gets harder and harder for white guys to retain their perceived right to run the world, you can see the frustration act itself out in various forms of hideous backlash -- everything from "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?" to Katma Tui.

I didn't know I had a right to run the world because I was white and a guy! Fuck, how do I get in on that right, failing though it may be? Did I get left out by being poor and raised in a highly matriarchal family? Shit! Fucked again, by circumstance and conspiracy!

Logical Fallacies, first: Loaded Words. Begging the Question. Straw Man. Others, but I'll limit myself to dealing with those.

Loaded Words: More like loaded phrases: "sexually violent" "these women" "consciously and subconsciously" "white guys" "right to run the world"

Are all deaths of female characters, in comics, sexually violent? And when they are, what percentage of those incidents are relevant to the story? (That is: When is it important that the character was killed/hurt in a sexually violent matter?) That's important because it'd be pretty hard to talk about rape, in the visual medium of comics, without using some "sexually violent visual language".

Are fictional characters really the same as "women"? Don't get me wrong, the treatment of fictional characters can reveal underlying psychological phenomena- I won't argue that. However, let us NEVER forget that "these women" are not real, have never been real, and do not resemble real individuals.

"White guys" is the favorite loaded word of the "oppressed minority" in America. Apparently, "white guys" are the only people capable of oppressing other people. Are comics dominated by "white guys" because of this "white guy" conspiracy to continue ruling the world? ("White guys" are the minority of persons in power throughout history, just so we're clear). Or is this simply inspiring our reflexive, media-reinforced, stereotype of old power hungry white oppressors from an era when people of different shading used different water fountains?

As a "white guy" I can say that neither me, nor any of my other "white guy" friends, have ever mistakenly thought we had a "right to run the world". Those times when, as I think everyone does, we discussed what we'd do if we DID run the world, reasoning for our rule wasn't often discussed. When that reasoning was discussed, it was never proposed that shading had anything to do with it. This is intended to shock and dismay the reader. "How could anyone think they have the right to run the world!?!"

Loaded words/phrases are there to play on the fears, insecurities, and stereotypes of the audience. They carry heavy emotional connotation. For instance: Who needs logic when you can just scare people into believing? The phrase "scare people into believing" sounds as if their choice was taken away from them and they were forced to believe.

The Straw Man is that this is all part of the conspiracy of "white guys" to perpetuate their "right to run the world". The other members of the "white guy" conspiracy have told me to assure you that NO such conspiracy exists.

(some of) The Begged Questions:
--"have the faintest grasp of feminist or semiotic theory"... Uhm...How does semiotics work into this? General Semantics? Semantics? Syntactics? Nevermind, I'll skip that bit. Why would we only need a faint grasp? Forget that, too, though. The biggest question is: Which type of feminist theory? (Post-, Second Wave, Third Wave, Other?)
--"it's HOW it's done and TO WHOM certain things are done"... Why only "certain things"? Do other "certain things" negate the first "certain things"? Most importantly, what is the generic algorithm for detection? What about "HOW it's done" reveals negative things about the "How"? What about "TO WHOM it's done" reveals negative things? Why? How?

This is just an example, of course. I think it illustrates the elitism- by denigrating one group to elevate the status of another. The faulty logic is often due to the ignorance of what logical fallacies are, and how to avoid them. The basic philosophy is that "feminism" is always a good thing because it promotes the "freeing" of an oppressed minority. However, I maintain that it does so at the expense of another group- technically the minority (just a technicality I think of as funny, not relevant). [This is different than the fight versus racism because everyone is of some "race" or another; while not everyone is female.] The credulity is many-fold: belief in a male-conspiracy, belief that anyone who opposes feminism is a misogynist, so on and so on.

This is why I oppose the furthering of "feminism"; because I think it's time we stop categorizing all the bullshit. It's time we stop fighting for this little thing or for that little thing. It's time we stop implying shit with labels. Feminism will never gain true equality without fighting the distinction in words like: "Mother" and "Father", "She/Her/Hers" and "He/Him/His". It's time to fight the context, not the language. Individualism is my theory of hating people based on their unique, individual, attributes. So what that he's Iraqi? Does he believe in bullshit? Who cares that she's a "she"? Is she a body-conscious, morally obligated, prude? There are better reasons to hate people than because of some bullshit "race" or they're a certain gender.

And trying to "rid the world of hate" is the dumbest fucking thing, ever! Read More...

Individualism, a Musing

Individualism is my new banner. Not the Individualism of Anarchy. Not the Individualism of Morality and Philosophy.

Recently, I've found myself rather disgusted with some groups. Feminists, Gay\Lesbian\Transgendered Activists, Anti-racists, and Anti-Discrimination-ists, in general. They seem rather myopic, in general; and so many seem out right hypocritical. It's sad, to me, that such noble causes are so easily dismissed because of their own bullshit.

I, as a "straight white male", am told that I am an oppressor. When I respond to hate and vitriol with hate and vitriol I am marginalized, dismissed, and generally ignored. Whatever happened to: "What's good for the goose is good for the gander"? Why the focus on labeling others, when fighting against the negative labels? Blatant Hypocrisy is stupid, childish, and- often- a sign of fallacy.


I propose getting rid of the bullshit. Destroying the crap. Admitting the objective reality, and general destruction of the myopic stupidity. There should never be a discussion of "race". It should never be a discussion about "sex". Who cares if you practice an "alternative lifestyle"? (No one should).

Everything should be about the individual. Some people are complete shit, not a redeeming quality about them. This is not something to be afraid of, it is something to be acknowledged. If a person is shitty, they should be labeled such and dealt with as such. They shouldn't be labeled shitty because their skin color is different; because of who they want to squat hump; or because they have a different set of sex chromosomes.

Each Individual should stand or fall on their own merits and flaws. Each Individual should be respected as different from all others. Most generalities concerning people, are wrong- no matter who's the target.


Are all "African Americans" "black"? Nope. Ever been to Egypt? What about 3d generation "white" South Africans who are recent immigrants?

Are all Frat Boys sexist idiot rapists? Nope. Go to a campus, talk to every single one- alone.
Rape is far too common in the United States; but if every Frat Boy was a rapist, it would be worse than the most liberal estimates.

Are all poor people lazy and/or stupid? Nope. There are many examples of famous thinkers who died unappreciated and penniless. George Orwell comes to mind, immediately; even if he may not be the best example.

Are all religious people simple-minded idiots incapable of grasping simple logic, credulity, or knowledge? Yes. Not every group is immune to criticism.

More importantly, there is a skeptical conceit of "the sacred cow". The sacred cow being something that is highly dubious, but still hard to be unemotional about and hard to give up on completely. It's okay that everyone isn't perfect. It's fine that some people are epic fails.

Individualism, then, is my idea for a realistic, unadorned, call for the destruction of discrimination- in all its forms. The acknowledgment of difference only in individuals. The breaking down of self-discrimination, and the building up of acceptance for the non-perfect other.


I am not an Irish-American Man nearing 30. I am a human. I happen to be male. I happen to live in the United States of America. I happen to be spawned from people who were spawned from people in Ireland, once upon a time. I happen to be 27, currently. I also, as it happens, need to piss and prefer sweet iced tea over most other non-alcoholic beverages. None of those facts means anything more about me than any of the others. Read More...