Wednesday Open Thread: Day 276 of the Year 2018 CE


Captain Jack.jpg

So, October 3, 2018 - for my reference if nothing else. I'm scurrying along trying to get all my OTs queued up before heading out on a 3 week road trip so I don't have to try to do it on the road. So today, we get a few scattered date related items that I find interesting, significant, or simply fun. One is even arguably something of merit

OK, on this date in 1873 the US hanged Captain Jack and his companions for the roles they played in the Modoc war. Though I side with Captain Jack in this matter, I'm not going to run through the whole history. I'm relating this fact in order to play a song - I admit it. Something to read my next rant to

Jump to 10-03-1957 and The California State Superior Court held that Allen Ginsberg's Howl and Other Poems wasn't obscene. I read it very young, got some explanations from my elder brother, and read it again every few years for a while, gaining ever and ever greater understanding and appreciation. One thing took me forever to sort out - how the hell did the question of obscenity even arise? The words weren't that dirty. There was no graphic sex. No dirty pictures. I finally got it: It wasn't remotely obscene, but certain critics were: Puritans, Blue noses, Christofascists. And, oh, yeah, that's it, there were gay people treated and viewed as humans. Oh, the horror, the horror! The continuing saga of the all pervasive Puritan Christian ethos and dominionism that underpins so much of our law, and all of our blue laws at work. And shut down, too, thanks judge. /rant

So, in 1938, (I really have trouble believing that year) Eddie Cochran was born. 10/03/1938, wow, and just as fresh as ever.

One more to set the mood, or not, as the case may be

Yeah, who cares - that resonated for years, decades even.

So 1947 brings us John Perry Barlow, a poet, songwriter, blogger, essayist and activist. His life and bio are amazing. He is definitely in the running for the least well known member of the Grateful Dead. He was also a cattle rancher and a cyberlibertarian, one of the founders of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, The leading nonprofit defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation. - https://www.eff.org/ He was also a founder of the Freedom of The Press Foundation - https://freedom.press/ It's business: Freedom of the Press Foundation protects and defends adversarial journalism in the 21st century. We use crowdfunding, digital security, and internet advocacy to support journalists and whistleblowers worldwide. That's more than the tip of the iceberg, but far from the totality of his life's work.
... and here's one to take home, his "Principles of Adult Behavior", print it and hang it on the wall

1 Be patient. No matter what.
2 Don't badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn't say to him.
3 Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
4 Expand your sense of the possible.
5 Don't trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.
6 Don't ask more of others than you can deliver yourself.
7 Tolerate ambiguity.
8 Laugh at yourself frequently.
9 Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
10 Try not to forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong.
11 Give up blood sports.
12 Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Don't risk it frivolously.
13 Never lie to anyone for any reason. (Lies of omission are sometimes exempt.)
14 Learn the needs of those around you and respect them.
15 Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.
16 Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun.
17 Praise at least as often as you disparage.
18 Admit your errors freely and quickly.
19 Become less suspicious of joy.
20 Understand humility.
21 Remember that love forgives everything.
22 Foster dignity.
23 Live memorably.
24 Love yourself.
25 Endure.

Other words to live by -- I may be going to hell in a bucket, but at least I'm enjoying the ride

Also:

So, there are many more worthies today, heck, jusst in music alone, but I have to throw one last clip up here not the greatest song nor the most skilled of his ouvre, but, in this instance showing some remarkable virtuosity near the end where he breaks a string in the middle of a riff, plays on and swaps guitars to continue without missing a beat. That is seriously hard to do. SRV born 10-03-1954


I won't be here when this posts, and don't know when or if I'll be able to drop by, so ....

The thread is open and the floor is yours. Whazzup?

((Image from page 637 of "Our pioneer heroes and their daring deeds" (1887)))

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mimi's picture

Smile Smile Smile
see, today is the day of German Unity and all my sister and I are doing is fighting over what would be appropriate to bring as a little nicety to someone we will visit in a couple of minutes. And we are age-wise both very adult, I mean having passed 70 years both, one would think we should have learned to behave like adults ... and all we have to show for is little toddlers stomping their feet and tell each other how mean the other is.

Peace and unity, would be a nice thing to have. Hanging that list over my bed would give me a lot of nightmares. So demanding .../s

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enhydra lutris's picture

@mimi
an adult, so just recognize those times and revert to Eddie Cochran mode and let loose your inner "who cares".

Have a wonderful day.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Happy hump day y'all.

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enhydra lutris's picture

@QMS
Have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Arrow's picture

To that I say...

More like live each day with a 'childlike wonder'.
Sometimes you have to drag me kicking and screaming to get me to
"act like an adult".

Have a good one all!

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I want a Pony!

enhydra lutris's picture

@Arrow
especially if one addds in a pony. He seems to have left out "be flexible" and "don't be overly hung-up on rules", but, yes, seek joy, awe and wonder.

Have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

TheOtherMaven's picture

and Hollywood's deplorable habit of casting non-Natives in Native roles....

Back in 1954 Warner Bros. released a very pro-White-Eyes version of the Modoc rebellion, called Drum Beat. It played fast and loose with the facts, made Captain Jack a Well-Intentioned Extremist, and cast a then-unknown actor who had just swapped out his birth surname of Buchinsky for Bronson - Charles Bronson. Hollywood could bronze his skin but could do nothing (then) about his steel-grey eyes, so the script included a line about his possibly having some "white" blood because of his light eyes.

None of the other Native roles were played by real Natives either.

It's not a bad movie if you take it as a dime-novel version of the story - and if you can find a version that hasn't been mangled by slash-and-burn: the original film was shot in CinemaScope, but was cropped to pieces by the extremely crude method of only showing the middle third of the screen (!!!), resulting in too many scenes with noses on either side of the screen talking to each other, while dull scenery occupies the majority of the screen. Blum 3

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

enhydra lutris's picture

@TheOtherMaven
Captain Jack, in reality, was actually saluted by those he had fought, who showed him more respect than some modern "histories". How it is that "we" honor the French Resistance an not Geronimo, Captain Jack, and all those of the American Resistance is beyond me.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

TheOtherMaven's picture

@enhydra lutris

The French Resistance were, ultimately, winners - the American Resistance, not so much.

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

enhydra lutris's picture

@TheOtherMaven

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Lookout's picture

...but like Arrow I think childlike wonder is preferred over adult behavior.

Bucky Fuller had it right I think...

"Life, as born, is inherently comprehensive in its apprehending, comprehending,and coordinating capabilities. Every child is interested in the universe. The child's questions are universal" But what is referred to as "elementary education" consists of bits and pieces; it tries in every way to destroy comprehensive understanding. He found the goal of education was to "de-genius" the child, for, as he said, "every child is born a genius." The mind of a child is an exquisite tool ready to explore the universe. All the child lacks is experience. The challenge is to find the way to present the most complex ideas in relation to children's existing levels of experience."

Hope your travels prove a great experience el!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

enhydra lutris's picture

@Lookout
his list is largely about being adult in interpersonal actions and interactions and doesn't stipulate any need to be an adult at all times and in all circumstances.

"Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free ...
so the kids they dance and shake those bones ... "

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

sea otter having dinner while out on our evening walk. Perfect.
Soon heading slowly up thru Big Sur to Pacific Grove for our last night on the road. Everybody have a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Azazello's picture

@enhydra lutris
We did the Big Sur drive on our trip too, going south, made a pilgrimage to the Henry Miller Library with a night at the Ragged Point Inn.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHhDkSzl9VE width:500 height:300]

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

earthling1's picture

@Azazello
Is highway 1 open all the way through to Santa Barbarbra again? I remember they had a humongous slide there recently.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Azazello's picture

@earthling1
There's still some road work going on but it's passable.

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

enhydra lutris's picture

@Azazello

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

dystopian's picture

@enhydra lutris Seawatchers - birdin' type - have seen Albatross from Pt. Pinos so give it a scan seaward as you pass. I never got lucky there, but sometimes thousands of Sooty Shearwaters going by this time of year (has been millions), Black Oystercatchers on the rocks too. Enjoy.

P.S. Acting adult is over-rated. Keeping the child within - the curious yearn to learn - alive is far more important... Wink

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

enhydra lutris's picture

@dystopian
closer to home, but I've never managed to catch their act. Didn't see much in the way of unusual birds this trip either.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

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Good morning, el.

All my life, lists like the one in your OP daunted me. Heck, even fortune cookies that didn't have the good sense to predict the future--it's in the name, as Sheldon Cooper might note--but instead directed the diner's behavior tasked me. Today, I read "Be patient. No matter what." and, after the briefest instant of despair, thought, "Nonsense."

It's just possible that my own skin is finally becoming exactly the right size for me. Maybe. A little. Today. Finally. Maybe.

That is such a novel and pleasant thought that I am impatient (*wink*) to leave off posting and enjoy it with my coffee (which, coincidentally is also especially delicious today).

I hope each of you will have at least one wonderful thought every day. But, hey, if you don't. screw it and be perfectly fine anyway. Because you are. Perfectly fine.

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enhydra lutris's picture

@HenryAWallace
I find some to be helpful or useful in various situations, or at least pieces thereof.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Raggedy Ann's picture

I copied, pasted, and printed out that list of adult behavior. I need constant reminders. I appreciate you recognizing that I needed that list!

We didn't get the rain last night. It was all around us, but, alas, we were in the donut hole. Crap.

Have a beautiful day, folks! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

enhydra lutris's picture

@Raggedy Ann

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

lotlizard's picture

Hesse state election, October 28
29 % CDU – Christian Democrats; chancellor Angela Merkel’s party
23     SPD – Social Democrats
18     Greens
13     AfD – Alternative for Germany; right-wing populists
  8     Left Party
  6     FDP – Free Democrats, laissez-faire-economics party; “liberals” (European terminology)
——
Source (FG Wahlen poll released Oct. 3):
http://www.wahlrecht.de/umfragen/landtage/index.htm

Hesse state includes the city Frankfurt am Main, home to many big banking and finance industry players including the European Central Bank.

Updated to add: Hesse is currently governed by a coalition of CDU and Greens.

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enhydra lutris's picture

@lotlizard
a good one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

earthling1's picture

And the Adult List. I'll copy and hang it next to my Desiderada, which I re-read often.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

enhydra lutris's picture

@earthling1

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

magiamma's picture

I would add to your list of "Principles of Adult Behavior": Step back from your amygdala. And maybe: Practice using your prefrontal cortex. Thanks as always. Have a good one Smile

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

enhydra lutris's picture

@magiamma
reading, magi, and have a great one.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --