Open Thread - Friday, May 26, 2017 - Change Edition
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not fighting the old, but on building the new.
- Socrates -
Do you think conservatives will ever embrace change? Change is continuous and unbounded. Fighting change is futile. I am astounded by conservatives fear of change. For a bunch of brash talking and self declared tough guys, they sure are a bunch of whiners who sit around crying like babies and will blow anything out of proportion to create drama and distract us from their mendacity and inhumanity. I have a piece of advice for those people, MYOB and STFU.
Unwittingly, I have followed Socrates advice. Innately, I know focusing on the past is a slippery slope, to be avoided. As Sophocles said:
There is no sense in crying over spilt milk. Why bewail what is done and can not be recalled?
- Sophocles -
It is pointless to stay anchored in the past. The remainder of humanity is operating in the present and is tired of constantly having to deal with the drama. To the devout and pious, nobody is persecuting you, so leave other people the funk alone. BTW, the whole contraception thing was worked out back when I was a child. Move on, moral scolds luddites.
I think, therefore I am it is not sufficient to embrace change. Each of us should be a change agent. Now is not the time to be still. Or remain quiet. The time for passive resistance may be passing, too. So, please be vigilant. Hold every public figure accountable. Call out the lies. No quarter for the puppet masters.
Change is a facilitator and a catalyst. For a very long time, I was a DFH working undercover as a corporate serf. I was miserable and felt trapped. Corporate America has made tremendous productivity gains, meaning it is even more efficient instilling a sense of hopelessness and despair. It has been three years, since I left the work force, and I still hate the old job and corporate inhumanity. Elective exclusion from the work force has liberated me from extorted servitude, and the constraints required to maintain my DFH cover. I am out of the closet and ready for action.
Change has facilitated turning up the DFH volume, and I don't give a funk if corporate America or conservatives anyone is dismayed, or irritated. Funk them! You see, they have lost their leverage. I do not have to go along to get along, and shall not. Bigots, gun huggers, war mongers, inhumane people, rude people, ignorant people, exploitative people, moral scolds, trolls and the like move over, or be trampled. You are in the way of progress.
It is time to get out there and instigate change! It is exciting, liberating and fulfilling.
Have a great weekend! The thread is OPEN.
Comments
Good morning, Tim~~
Change is coming whether we are ready or not. Some are taken kicking and screaming while the rest of us hold the door open for them.
It is inevitable. Change will come.
Have a great day and long weekend, folks!
"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
Exactly
So the kickers and screamers need to give it a rest and their political class panderers need to be removed from office. Twice in the last week, I encountered someone who claimed Trump surrounds himself with bright people. I have my Devos, Pruitt, Munchkin (sp), Ross, Sessions, Pence, ... monologue down pat. So they get a few minutes of "ARE YOU FUNKING KIDDING ME?". Followed by the 45 is, and always was, a grifter and con-man. I don't care if they are unappreciative of the information.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Or,
Actually, I would prefer we give them their own country. If only we had let the south secede and added Texas as a bonus.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
That was then, this is now
I live in Wake County, NC. Wake and Orange (UNC Chapel Hill) are bluer than most counties in the country. The countryside, not so much. RTP attracted rust belt transplants. There are more Steeler and Red Wing fans, than Panthers or Hurricanes.
I would support TX secession, if it were not for the victimization of the same people. Could you imagine the open carry hell hole of the most uninsured people, highest ratio of minimum wage jobs and petro-chemical influence?
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Good morning, NCTim!
This morning, you posted:
- Socrates -
Yesterday, studentofearth posted
https://caucus99percent.com/comment/267513#comment-267513
Reactive is fighting the old.
Maybe the universe is trying to tell Caucus99percenters something?
Change of topic (or is it?).
Don't shoot me--
As my niece once advised, "Auntie, you have to be careful what you wish for: The wish fairy has no return window."
The last several decades (or more) have seen from legislation little positive change. Every President since Nixon has deregulated. Bankruptcy Reform in 1978 crew the curtain back over the activities of corporate officers and directors prior to a corporation's filing for bankruptcy.
Welfare reform privatized welfare into gofundme.com (not really-gallows humor)and perhaps only Lewinski saved us from Social Security and Medicare "reform." The Obama administration put the last nail in the coffin of the Fairness Doctrine and loosened up securities laws. The House just made Obamacare--not a great program anyway--much worse. The Republican Senate will improve the House bill some--we hope--but I'm not optimistic about the final product. So, though I consider myself liberal, I cringe when I learn that Congress is about to "reform" anything. I'd just as soon they sat on their hands for the foreseeable future.
The dark side of me ...
Wants to see them cold, hungry and sick.
I nominate these representatives for the test case:
What fine human specimen, heh?
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
My daughter
just moved to Texas because of her husband's job. While they were moving in, a neighbor walked up and asked them if they had found a home church yet. My son-in-law said, no - we don't participate in organized religion. That set the tone!
Texas cannot secede until they move away - hopefully in two years - when he gets transferred again.
"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
Morning chuckle
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
tRump always looks constipated even when he's smiling.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Bad diet
Constipates and clouds the mind. Rockin' with the oldies:
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Overheard at the Vatican
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
Good morning.
It's a beautiful morning here in south central Texas. Unfortunately our area made the national news because a cop allegedly punched a 14 year old girl in the face several times. I remember how I was when I was 14....I was definitely not an adult yet, very vulnerable and well....still childlike. I would have been devastated had that happened to me. I don't know the circumstances of this incident, but 14 years old?
Once again we come face to face (bad choice of words) with the fact that those in positions of authority are not behaving in a civilized fashion. We the people, who pay the taxes, (and all people) deserve civilized behavior from those in authority. It should be a given.
Thanks for your musical selection, I enjoyed it. The DFH were right. As many have said, we are all stuck on this rock together with no way off. Why don't we just do the smart thing and take good care of this planet and all the creatures and plants on it?
Speaking of plants, I'm reading The Songs of Trees: stories from nature's great connectors by David George Haskell. Haskell writes about the intricate connections of trees to their surroundings; to the soil, bacteria, viruses, fungi, air, water, wind, rain, other plant life, and animal life. It's fascinating and beautiful.
@randtntx Link to incident of cop
Link to incident of cop and 14 year old girl in San Antonio
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/24/san-antonio-texas-police...
Adolescents
... have poor impulse control (a lot of adults too). It is just part of the development process. I live a few miles from this incident:
Are you funking kidding me! The little girl weighed 100#. She could not be subdued by simply bear hugging. I blame the militarization of the police, the military to law enforcement pipeline and the lack of police accountability.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
@NCTim Having to deal with
Having to deal with difficult situations and people is part of the job of our police. They have the education surrounding the physical and psychological aspects of that skill set. We pay them to do that particular job in the most humane and safest way possible. As American citizens we care about the safety of all involved and this definitely includes the safety of the police. But you are right, a 100 lb. teenage female vs. an adult male cop? Subduing that person should be accomplished without too much trouble with skill, care, and humanity.
Buenos morning c99 ...
Is this a first ? A c99 story, this one, was linked at naked capitalism this morning. Congrats to The Aspie Corner.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Cool
I submit that The Aspie Corner's membership dues be waived.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Seconded.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc8_Qs_y-xs width:500 height:300]
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Thirded
"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
US “hacking” German vote? Obama touts Merkel at church congress
Let us
prayscream [i.e., like fans of pop stars]Obama shows up at church congress and boosts Merkel’s election campaign. That helps her score points with young people. Social Democrats find that sickening in the extreme (in German)
@lotlizard - I found that annoyingly light-weight
and I have to say that Obama's words are really not significant and I realize that apparently a lot of Germans have not been exposed to criticism of Obama in the German media. He talks and talks and talks and talks .... and we listen and listen and listen and are polite and say nothing, because we don't want to be called racist, but that's it. He thinks he can convince the elder folks in Germany? I don't think so. He was born in 1961 and has just book knowledge of the cold war.
I remember, when Obama wanted to speak for the first time under the Brandenburg Gate and if I remember correctly, Merkel or the German government didn't want that at that time considering it as presumptious, so he had to speak at the Siegessaeule instead. That was then:
Obama's Berlin Speech - People of the World, Look at Me
[video:https://youtu.be/Cix84UGPu0c]
May be, Obama being inside of Germany, he could adapt to local customs and not call the Chancellor "Angela". There are still some Germans around, who don't think we have to be cool kwel and fake and don't need to imitate this phony "buddy, buddy" talk. oh, I guess, I am just too old, old fashioned and stubborn. What the heck.
This President could talk, but he talked too much. That is now:
[video:https://youtu.be/ZV6yjj50lGc]
Sorry, it still hurts to think through the last ten years. Since I am back in Germany and watch local TV here, I have to say, I feel so tired of all of it. The documentary style reports are often quite good, something you can't see in the US mains stream media too often. Still, I am discouraged.
I wished I could translate the narratives. I dream of a world without cameras and just sound. May be we would understand more without being "egged on" by visuals.
I know what you mean
Of the learning modes, auditory, visual and tactile, I am biased toward auditory. Visual is a distraction. I remember and process everything I hear. Seeing, not so much. Tactile, I am not so sure about. I was a very good wrestler/judo competitor, but struggle with playing the guitar.
The take away is that people have a different grasp on what they observe, and their innate proclivities influence their interpretation. Some people are huggers, some people not. Some people are yellers, some people not. Some people are very demonstrative (visual), some people not. It is all good, people just need to chill the funk out.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
aww, a sweetheart answer and comment, thanks
I know a bit what you are talking about too. My son learned to speak four languages at the age of thirteen just by his auditory capabilities so well that Americans convinced him to be a "genius". He had no visual capabilities and was what people would consider a "dyslexic". That of course brought him down from his "genius" pedestal to feel cheated and broken.
Anyway, I believe a person, who is conscious of a camera being around (and these days they are anywhere) does not behave and speak as if he/she felt to be alone and not watched or surveilled.
Thanks, NCTim.
Morning Tim. As someone who has been advocating
changing this country's national political system, I've found liberals and progressives as against change as most conservatives. Lining up to vote for the same old politicians every two years isn't change, it's conservative acquiescence to the way things have always been. Mindless subservience to the systems other humans have designed. I've found the vast majority of people, liberals, conservatives, or whatever, are more comfortable simply following the bouncing red ball rather than trying to find a better way.
You can't be a change agent unless you seek change.
Wholly agree
You can't be a change agent without some subversion. I think street action is coming, is this the summer of discontent? I think congress can be the catalyst. When they defer to the money and leave the people hanging, more people recognize the paradox of the two party system. I am girding for the fight and don't have much to lose, making me difficult to deal with.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
@NCTim That is a fine
That is a fine interpretation of the Dylan piece. I appreciate Tom Morello a lot, have seen him 2x. But you are wrong, you do have a lot to lose. Or I should say, we have a lot to loose. Your voice and perspective are very valuable. We need it. I am, and always have been, very much against wasting valuable resources needlessly.
That would make you a resource conservative.
And that is fine a good. We aim towards that. Conserving resources, like our water and our children.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Bon matin, mon ami!
Still shaking my head over Montana. I cannot quite get how these lowlifes keep getting elected? If a candidate struck a campaign reporter 40 years ago, he would have been crushed at the voting booth. That included a goodly amount of Christians and country people, NOT rednecks! He/she would also have to watch their backs cos they embarrassed a lot of folks across the board. One positive: progressive democrats are winning at the local level again.
Counting down the days to the PNW ride. We fly non-stop into Portland, OR. That will be a cultural sea change from Orlando, FL. Ride and look at achingly gorgeous scenery for a week, and on a bike. Works for me. I'm grateful that I can do it both $$ and physically at my advancing age. LOL.
One of my favorites from a biker album. Enjoy. Take care and stay safe. Is that avatar pic, you? Bears a passing resemblance to Frank Zappa getting snowed on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW_8XVleBSA
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
More amazing
That congress would have him. He should be repudiated and incarcerated. I know of no other workplace where laying hands on someone is not a termination event. I know of several work place incidents where people were taken away by the police and never allowed back into the workplace. It is telling.
BTW, MT is very large and rural. The majority of the ballots were probably already cast.
The avatar picture is me @Jazzfest.
Have fun on the ride! I spent the rainy part of this week in the garage working on motorcycles. I procured a Ducati Scrambler, which is fun and great for around town. The Italians are very good at power plants and suspension. Hand controls, ergonomics, fit and finish and user intuitive controls, not so much. I had to read the manual to figure out how to turn on the high beams!
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Embedding
When on Youtube, click on Embed, copy the text from the box and plop it into your comment. I usually change the the "560" to "420" and "315" to "236" to make the video box smaller.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
@NCTim Will do. Will try
Will do. Will try anyway. I 'm not the brightest bulb in the tech box.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Early voting may account for his win. Also the DNC damned
his Berniecrat opponent with faint praise. This incident came too late,
I'm afraid. Anyway, he'll fit right in in DC. The scum always rises to the top.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
changes
Learn from the old and embrace the new.
UK was using Manchester bomber’s circle to gather info in Libya
https://www.taz.de/Netzwerk-um-den-Manchester-Attentaeter/!5409632/
Heya Tim. Change isn't optional and
it is continuous. Since we're tossing out quotations:
Conservatives try to view a vector reality through a scalar frame of reference. Hence, error.
-- not Confucious
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 --
There is another possible explaination
It makes me mad. I get evil as a man can be.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
something to believe in
change
All floodgates are open on the first hydrodam on the St Lawrence
River. Water level in Lake Ontario is now 3' higher than average. Most docks are under water, debris (including docks) is now mid-channel. I suspect this long weekend will have many people out, pulling in stuff. Not a time for night boating. Water temp 52.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Something funny
The U.S. CEO impugned Canada, Canadian dairy farmers and issues some threats. Lake Ontario is high and with debris for Memorial Day weekend due to St' Lawrence hydro discharge.
I hope it was on purpose. I love when a loudmouth bully gets out maneuvered.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -