tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post9149573646855040475..comments2024-03-18T13:34:06.557-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: The Post of Christmas Past & PresenceGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-39800880788036548932012-01-04T05:27:54.491-08:002012-01-04T05:27:54.491-08:00Good luck Anna! :^)Good luck Anna! :^)USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-80063284734939424132011-12-29T17:11:23.031-08:002011-12-29T17:11:23.031-08:00"Esoterism can apparently sound cold or exces..."Esoterism can apparently sound cold or excessively abstract to some. We understand. But for us, it is the other wayround to the same end: straight exoterism with no esoteric chaser always leaves us a little too sober."<br /><br />I'm partway through this post and finding I must mention that in order to just pay attention to the straight exo-T stuff, I have to amputate part of myself. Like gouging out one whole eye. I've come into acquaintance with people lately with a taste for the exo, and there is a sort of weird pressure to perceive the world in a certain way. But this would mean pretending that I don't see certain things or ignoring things. Well, anyway... For me, it is awkward. <br /><br />Going to have to sort this out, especially because one of the people in particular is a fellow of interest (or rather, he has indicated a strong interest toward me). Not sure how a cross-exo/eso-cultural connection can work out. But it's intersting so far, in a zany sort of way. <br /><br />I'll get off the 'couch' now and finish the post.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900344453710081874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-14535827629710085912011-12-29T03:25:52.958-08:002011-12-29T03:25:52.958-08:00jallelujah POTUS Romney
headroejallelujah POTUS Romney<br /><br />headroegehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015936407999495181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-26450140295140832972011-12-28T13:03:24.163-08:002011-12-28T13:03:24.163-08:00Political cycle-wise, we're smack dab in the m...Political cycle-wise, we're smack dab in the middle of a liberal (government expansion) era that's going to run until 2020 or so-ish.<br /><br />Then we either solve our current debt/spending problem or it solves us.<br /><br />Either way, we are almost certainly going to end up with *less* government due to the *less* money available.<br /><br />Right now, we are trying more complex governmental solutions. Since that won't actually work, at some point we are going to try something else.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11126071014909954387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-12559047929754178892011-12-28T12:25:08.025-08:002011-12-28T12:25:08.025-08:00Case in point, we've got a fellow active in fo...Case in point, we've got a fellow active in forums out here who thinks he's discovered the ultimate litmus test, he thinks he's the second coming of Lincoln on <a href="http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/texts/kansas.html" rel="nofollow">the Kansas-Nebraska Act</a>... and his humdinger of a For or Against question? "TARP! For it or against it!".<br /><br />I just shake my head. I'll spend hours walking him & others through the problems with a single issue, especially one that is so poorly understood as that... but they just snap back into place like ronpaulubber band the moment they feel themselves seeing sense.<br /><br />I just shake my head.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30027384953170521692011-12-28T12:11:38.771-08:002011-12-28T12:11:38.771-08:00Lol, Cuz... strikes like the wind.Lol, Cuz... strikes like the wind.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-31530427504800650212011-12-28T12:10:15.436-08:002011-12-28T12:10:15.436-08:00Gagdad, yep, pretty much agree with that, particul...Gagdad, yep, pretty much agree with that, particularly,<br /><br /> “Rather, a lot of people who call themselves conservative are only Republicans, and so-called independents are mostly spineless and impressionable mush-heads, and therefore de facto liberals.”<br /><br />I’d only modify “We need someone who can enlist dopey moderates against the liberal powers-that-be, which is what Reagan managed to do, but just barely.”<br /><br />To “The best we can hope for is someone who can enlist dopey moderates against the liberal powers-that-be, which is what Reagan managed to do, but just barely.” <br /> <br />Which is why, while I’ll do what I can in various races, I’m focusing on decades down the line – we cannot have a ‘conservative’ candidate, a classical liberal, who can run, win and govern as such, until we have a significant percentage of the populace who understands why it is necessary to, and a sizable percentage of inattentive moderates who can nod and say ‘eh, I suppose that’s not too extreme’.<br /><br />Lacking that… behaving as if it isn’t lacking <i>‘wouldn’t be prudent’</i>.<br /><br />Still sickening though.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-11773070474559979302011-12-28T11:57:14.761-08:002011-12-28T11:57:14.761-08:00In my opinion, a true conservative would not be el...In my opinion, a true conservative would not be electable, because the country is not conservative, despite polls indicating that the country is roughly 40% conservative and only 20% liberal. Rather, a lot of people who call themselves conservative are only Republicans, and so-called independents are mostly spineless and impressionable mush-heads, and therefore de facto liberals. The bottom line is that running a conservative candidate for the sake of ideological purity is asking for a disaster. And even if elected, he or she would be subject to a hysterical liberal Four Year Hatefest that would make it impossible to govern. We need someone who can enlist dopey moderates against the liberal powers-that-be, which is what Reagan managed to do, but just barely.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-66272754619667862262011-12-28T11:37:25.137-08:002011-12-28T11:37:25.137-08:00Gagdad said “Four years ago he was the conservativ...Gagdad said “Four years ago he was the conservative alternative to McCain, and he's no less conservative today.”<br /><br />Romney wasn’t my alternative then or now, and I really don’t see him as being conservative, then or now – less leftist than Obama? Sure. Less proregressive than McCain? Sure. More capable at running against Obama than the others? Probably. I don’t think that adds up to being conservative though. <br /><br />Despite his claims, he is a politician through and through, and as Newt pointed out, is not a lifelong politician only because he lost elections. <br /><br />There are many ‘flip flops’ I could ref, but they themselves are minor, changing positions doesn’t really bother me, though seeming to do so, or to phrase positions so as to seem otherwise than he means them, to win an election, does. <br /><br />I don't like his hair jokes. Basically, I don’t trust him, I don’t like him, I don't think that he is who he presents himself as being. VDH’s buddy Bruce Thornton <a href="http://victorhanson.com/articles/thornton122311.html" rel="nofollow">touched on part of the flavor</a> of my dislike for him the other day.<br /><br />On top of that, I have a deep misgiving for businessmen who say they ‘know how to make government work’, no, they know how to make a business work, and confusing the two worries me. A lot. And like Newt, he believes that govt has an active place in doing good. <br /><br />Do I see someone else who’s better suited to it?<br /><br />Nope.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-68366574468061696582011-12-28T09:44:41.266-08:002011-12-28T09:44:41.266-08:00If it weren't for Romneycare, I'd have no ...If it weren't for Romneycare, I'd have no problem with him. The fact that he esesentially favors socialized medicine gives me pause, but other than that I think he'd be fine.<br /><br />I wonder, though, if his Mormonism won't be too much of a stumbling block; an awful lot of people have a problem with that.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-88786615287186415182011-12-28T09:06:16.050-08:002011-12-28T09:06:16.050-08:00I like Romney.
Unlike with McCain, I won't ...I like Romney. <br /><br />Unlike with McCain, I won't have to be drug out kicking and screaming to vote for him.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11126071014909954387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-62507053365750122542011-12-28T09:02:17.390-08:002011-12-28T09:02:17.390-08:00I'm not sure what the objection is to Romney. ...I'm not sure what the objection is to Romney. Four years ago he was the conservative alternative to McCain, and he's no less conservative today. Plus he's electable, and will be more effective at turning the left's hatred back on itself, because what is there to hate?Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-16807974680443107252011-12-28T08:11:35.207-08:002011-12-28T08:11:35.207-08:00The dying sacrificial god solved the problem of hu...The dying sacrificial god solved the problem of human sacrifice once and for all, right?<br /><br />Meaning that it's a cure to human sacrifice. <br /><br />Anyhow, it works, so let's stick with it. Although I'll admit to liking Christmas more than Easter. <br /><br />In other news, Romney is about to win the nomination.<br /><br />wv: krist(mas)JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11126071014909954387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-81883514575263518452011-12-27T09:31:38.593-08:002011-12-27T09:31:38.593-08:00Agreed. I suspect Joyce was tackled by something e...Agreed. I suspect Joyce was tackled by something ever so much deeper than mere humor. If that were all, it would hardly be worth the effort to understand it, or so it seems to me.<br /><br />Re. Focusing on the trees, seems to me one can squeeze every possible permutation of meaning from each word or phrase until all that's left is the dry husks of overwrought letters, or one can just try to <i>read</i> (to the extent one is able) and let the meanings unfold in the subconscious. I know which I prefer.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-22162485719120037592011-12-27T08:47:30.679-08:002011-12-27T08:47:30.679-08:00The whole text is available online.
The problem w...The whole text is available online.<br /><br />The problem with Cliett is that he completely focuses on the trees to the exclusion of any forest at all. He's not completely wrong, of course, but again, it's hard to believe that Joyce would have gone to all that trouble just for the sake of an extremely dense joke.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-2171676184127244522011-12-27T08:26:29.799-08:002011-12-27T08:26:29.799-08:00Re. The wake, I am currently reading the book abou...Re. The wake, I am currently reading the book about getting through page one. So of course now I want to try and actually read page one. Realistically speaking, if I get any farther than that it'll be little short of miraculous, though I'm also fool enough to think that having managed the opening and closing of the Coonifesto my brain may be able to take in another page or two. <br /><br />Now that I'm done with T of the B, I was thinking the Wake might be good reading in the wee hours, but maybe that's just begging for trouble...juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-9658622939827872112011-12-27T08:19:08.345-08:002011-12-27T08:19:08.345-08:00Re. The quotes, I was thinking more of the wonder ...Re. The quotes, I was thinking more of the wonder and mystery part. Of course absent the metaphysics, I'd probably be too depressed to maintain much of a sense of wonder or mystery...juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-39761428149257710462011-12-27T07:50:02.470-08:002011-12-27T07:50:02.470-08:00Here it is: Surfing Finnegans Wake. So old, it&#...Here it is: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surfing-Finnegans-Riding-Marshall-McLuhan/dp/1561769118/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325000804&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow">Surfing Finnegans Wake</a>. So old, it's a cassette tape. I'll bet it's available elsewhere in some other medium...Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-42411200107226653702011-12-27T07:43:19.943-08:002011-12-27T07:43:19.943-08:00And I don't see any reason to try to publish a...And I don't see any reason to try to publish a new post. It's already 7:40, almost time to get ready for work. MIght even close up shoppe for the year, depending upon how the week unfolds. I have vowed to get completely caught up with my work by 2012. If the cosmos is going to end as scheduled, I want to have my affairs in order (although in Terence McKenna's forecast, he thought that we have until December. But when dealing with a 14 billion year chunk of time, it's hard to be precise... that's a coincidence -- McKenna is the person who first turned me on to FW. I think he published a short talk that might be available on amazon...).Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-8111650201437970572011-12-27T07:35:33.922-08:002011-12-27T07:35:33.922-08:00Re the quotes, I have to admit that in the absence...Re the quotes, I have to admit that in the absence of metaphysical books, morning glories at my window would get old pretty quick. At the risk of sounding speciesist, to me they all pretty much look the same.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-86942586762443383542011-12-27T07:30:26.631-08:002011-12-27T07:30:26.631-08:00Julie:
No. Plus, you don't tackle it. It ta...Julie:<br /><br />No. Plus, you don't tackle it. It tackles you. I would definitely start with the secondary literature -- for example, Campbell's Skeleton Key -- otherwise, it's a little like trying to read Chinese. <br /><br />This book on FW and Kabbalah is the first one I've read that really gets into the question of why Joyce -- who had just written what many consider to be the greatest novel of the 20th century -- would spend the subsequent 17 years working on something so obscure, just for the sake of a multitude of jokes and puns. I have always suspected that he was trying to construct something like a total map of the cosmos, and Anderson is confirming that suspicion. I'm only up to page 100 or so of a five volume treatise, so we'll see where it leads.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6993377525994882262011-12-27T07:23:49.426-08:002011-12-27T07:23:49.426-08:00Remember, although the Jesus is "Word made fl...<i>Remember, although the Jesus is "Word made flesh," this does not mean that the eternal Word was nowhere to be heard in this vale of ears prior to the Incarnation.</i><br /><br />This was a truth that I ran across back thirty years or so ago that really helped me get on the right track. God was talking and people were getting bits and pieces of it, incorporating into their understanding via creation/fall/redemption/resurrection stories about Nimrod, Isis, Horus, et al. Lewis relates a incident where one of his fellow scholars admitted to being disturbed by the fact that the "dying god" thing had really happened in history.mushroomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651027035577798096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-1635875857047636682011-12-26T23:05:19.497-08:002011-12-26T23:05:19.497-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-43399102178538302352011-12-26T18:34:47.853-08:002011-12-26T18:34:47.853-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Cousin Dupreenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-49177394043746621052011-12-25T21:58:52.489-08:002011-12-25T21:58:52.489-08:00"Esoterism can apparently sound cold or exces..."Esoterism can apparently sound cold or excessively abstract to some. We understand. But for us, it is the other wayround to the same end: straight exoterism with no esoteric chaser always leaves us a little too sober. More blood, please!"<br /><br />Esoterism used to appear that way to me...until I realized that the coldness resided in myself, because I hadn't embraced esoterism along with exoterism for balance or completeness.<br /><br />Without the esoteric I was far too sober and everything was way to tidy since everything fit nicely into containers.<br /><br />Esoterism enabled me to be contained by O rather than failing to contain the uncontainable.<br /><br />It perfected my spiritual liberty, so to speak and freed my blind to see mythteries galOre I gnew were there, but never had access to.<br /><br />More blood indeed!<br /><br />Merry Christmas Bob, Leslie and FL! And to my fellow Raccoons! :^)USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.com