Monday, February 02, 2004

Monday Morning Humor

McQ, at the blog Questions and Observations, commenting on PETA’s hiring of Richard Pryor for a campaign against KFC.

“Now there’s a guy who has some empathy for chickens, having once been a fryer himself."

Posted by John Venlet on 02/02 at 07:13 AM
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False Outrage equals Free Publicity

Drudge bears the headline “OUTRAGE AT CBS AFTER JANET BARES BREAST DURING DINNER HOUR; SUPER BOWL SHOW PUSHES LIMITS," complete with bare breast close up.  Oh the horror.  A quick read of various blogs this A.M. shows this incident is the topic of conversation.  Of course, Justin Timberlake states "It was not intentional and is regrettable." Yeah, right Justin.  MTV, in this statement, backs Timberlake up.  Ho, hum.

Hey, its not like Janet’s breast is an eyesore, though that sun broche could wreak havoc on someone’s teeth and gums.  In fact, Janet’s breast doesn’t look much different than a National Geographic photo layout of life in Africa, to this day.

If you really want to be outraged about something, get outraged about George Will sideline cheering for expanding government, as Greg Ransom points out.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/02 at 06:35 AM
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Sunday, February 01, 2004

An Exquisite Scourging

Reading, is an integral part of my life.  It has been since I was in the third grade, when my teachers, instead of mindlessly punishing me for inappropriate behavior in class, behaviors such as inattention, blurting out answers to questions, or disrupting teaching, would say, “John, get yourself a book and sit, quietly, in the back of the class and read.” A punishment I readily assented to.  Today, those behaviors would be evaluated and, in all probability, medicated.

Needless to say, I’ve read more than a few books since those days.  But I had not read any H.L. Mencken until now.  I was first made aware of Mencken when I was rooting around in the archives of a weblog I enjoy.  I was searching for a posting dealing with Objectivism, when I stumbled upon a comment where the weblog author mentioned that an individual he respected had recommended that the author read more Mencken.  I made a mental note of this and, the next time I was at the library, I investigated the library’s shelves for Mencken’s works.  I found two, though one was a collection of Mencken’s work compiled by another individual.  The one actual work by Mencken was Heathen Days. I plucked this autobiographical volume from the shelf and grabbed a seat.  I cracked open the book, read the first story, and I was on my way.  After reading the first story, I was so enthralled, I checked out the book, went to a local coffee hangout, and did not leave until I had finished the entire book three hours later.  In an email to a friend, I summed up my impression of the book by stating “What a ride!” Needless to say, I went back to the library, that same day, returned Heathen Days and plucked the edited collection of Mencken’s work from the shelf, and headed home with the new material.  This book also, did not disappoint, and in fact, spurred me to visit our local book resellers to scour their shelves for works of Mencken.  I found one.  A Mencken Chrestomathy, and, it is in regards to this work, that I want to share a few thoughts.

Mencken is a critic of astounding breadth and depth.  Men, women, religion, morals, government, democracy, psychology, science, music, nothing and no one is beyond his scrutiny, and, in A Mencken Chrestomathy, Mencken has provided us with “a collection of choice passages;” as the word chrestomathy, “in its true sense,” means.  Mencken’s pen goes to work, flaying imbecility, immediately in the preface.  And he does not spare his chosen field of endeavor, journalism, from his penetrating gaze.  As I read, my pen was constantly in my hand, underlining choice phrases, annotating passages of hiliarity or noting an area of interest that bears further investigation.  What follows, are my impressions on various sections of this work of Mencken’s, which may entice you to read what Mencken has to say.

The first series of writings in A Mencken Chrestomathy deals with "Homo Sapiens" and is followed, closely on its heels, by "Types of Men." The thoughts that Mencken presents, in these two series of essays and articles, strike you with the intensity of one of Mencken’s favored forms of punishment.  The bastinado.  Thoughts such as "The simple fact is that most of man’s thinking is stupid, pointless and injurious to him." The blow from such a statement does not so much injure, as sharply draw you back to reality.  Whether you are friend, philosopher, bachelor or slave, Mencken has considered it and stripped away the dross with the alacrity of Zorro defrocking a young lass with his rapier.

In the series entitled “Women,” if Mencken were alive today, the feminists would form a special femi-nazi squad in order to hunt Mencken down and purify the race of men.  In the series on “Religion,” of special interest to me because of my mystical streak, Mencken put me before the mast and commenced my flogging.  When I was finally cut loose from the mast, I was not so much bloodied by Mencken’s pen, but, like a frat pledge during initiation, found myself asking “Might I have another, Sir.”

A series on “Morals” and "Crime and Punishment" quickly follow, and in the first essay in the latter series mentioned here, Mencken says this about penology.  "The science of penology, in these days, is chiefly in the hands of sentimentalists, and in consequence it shows all the signs of glycosuria." I was not familiar with the word “glycosuria,” but when I looked it up, I laughed and laughed and annotated my copy of the book with the note “Look up this word and laugh.” In the next series, titled “Death,” Mencken had me laughing again with this observation from the essay "On Suicide. "Half the time of all medical men is wasted keeping life in human wrecks who have no more intelligible reason for hanging on than a cow has for giving milk." Mencken’s pen spares nothing.

The next series, on “Government,” begins with the essay "Its Inner Nature." He succinctly sums up the purpose of government in the very first sentence.  "All government, in its essence, is a conspiracy against the superior man: its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him." The series ends on just such a succinct note, in fact, the final essay is titled "Note on a Cuff" and it reads as follows.  "The saddest life is that of a political aspirant under democracy.  His failure is ignominious and his success is disgraceful." In the next series, “Democracy,” Mencken’s blade continues to whistle through the air, slicing choice morsels for us to consume.  Such as this from "A Glance Ahead." "Democracy, in fact, is always inventing class distinctions, despite its theoretical abhorrence of them."

Following the series on “Democracy,” Mencken’s razor sharp mind slices, oh so quickly, into “Americans,” "The South," “History,” “Statesmen,” and "American Immortals," followed by, with no less a sharp gaze, a short series on "Odd Fish." Following these sorties, Mencken parses “Economics,” “Pedagogy” is lashed with the observation "The virtue of a college degree is that it shuts off the asking of certain kinds of questions, some of them embarassing.  It is a certificate of safety, both to the holder and to the nation in general." “Psychology” “Science,” and general “Quackery” do not escape unscathed either.

"The Human Body," "Utopian Flights," and "Sovenirs of a Journalist," which follow “Quackery,” also do not disappoint.  Mencken’s pen strokes these subjects also with the precise cuts of an Exacto knife.  He deftly wields his weapon, removing impairments to your ability to rationally consider the matters at hand.

In the series entitled “Criticisms,” Mencken states a personal observation which I have found, in myself, to be most beneficial.  "A hearty slating always does me good, particularly if it be well written.  It begins by enlisting my professional respect; it ends by making me examine my ideas coldly in the privacy of my chamber.  Not, of course, that I usually revise them, but I at least examine them.  If I decide to hold fast to them, they are all the dearer to me thereafter, and I expound them with a new passion and plausibility.  If, on the contrary, I discern holes in them, I shelve them in a pianissimo manner, and set about hatching new ones to take their place.  But “constructive” criticisms irritates me.  I do not object to being denounced, but I can’t abide being schoolmastered, especially by men I consider imbeciles."

“Literature” is Mencken’s next foray into battle and the titles of these essays are entertaining in and of themselves.  "The Divine Afflatus," "The Poet and His Art," "The Author at Work," "The Blue Nose" and others in this series, and in the series “Literati,” cause some trepidation in me as I write these words.  I wonder if my words would withstand the clarity of his mind.

It is only fitting, that the series “Music” follows the two just mentioned.  In this series we are treated to Mencken’s love of classical music and his disdain for jazz.  Following “Music,” is "The Lesser Arts," to wit, in Mencken’s estimation, painting.  Two passages from within this series especially struck me.  This, from "Art Critics" "Every time a new revolutionist gives a show he issues a manifesto explaining his aims and achievements, and in every such manifesto there is the same blowsy rodomontadizing that one finds in the texts of the critics.  The thing, it appears, is very profound.  Something new has been discovered.  Rembrandt, poor old boy, lived and died in ignorance of it." And this, from "Hand-Painted Oil Paintings," which called to mind Melissa and I sniggering at individuals at a Monet exhibit in Chicago, who sat, staring intently, for fifteen minutes, half an hour, an hour, at one particular painting.  "If a man stands before a given painting for more than five or ten minutes, it is usually a sign of affectation: he is trying to convince himself that he has more delicate perceptions than the general."

Within this same series, Mencken parries at "Art Galleries," “Actors,” “Oratory,” and in "The Libido for the Ugly," architecture, amongest others.  None escape without a mark.

The last two series in A Mencken Chrestomathy are “Buffooneries” and “Sententiae.” Fitting reading as a denouement to the care Mencken took in compiling these works.  This work, is, without a doubt, the most enjoyable work I have ever read.  A Mencken Chrestomathy will not end up on my bookshelf.  It will remain on my nightstand, alongside the Good Book I delve into from time to time.  It is only fitting, I think, as Mencken’s words are even more powerful, in light of their clarity and non-obfuscated delivery, than what has been toggled together by a bunch of men hundreds of years ago and labeled as divine.

As the title of this piece states, reading A Mencken Chrestomathy is an exquisite scourging.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/01 at 07:28 AM
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Saturday, January 31, 2004

I'm Thinking Clearly, Now

Earlier today, after reading this post, by Billy Beck, and a couple of others he penned, I dropped him an email.  In it, I said this, among other things.

"I, initially, after September 11, had some respect for Bush.  Sadly, he is no different than any other politician.  He is simply a “professional jobholder."

What has changed, you ask?  Think about the steel tariff fiasco, think about Medicare, think about manned missions to Mars and the Moon, think about the truth of the following statement from Daniel Drezner, posted by Beck also in the link above,

"If Karl Rove thought imposing wage and price controls would win Pennsylvania and Michigan for Bush, you’d see an Executive Order within 24 hours."

Bush is no different than any other politician out there.  Each and every politician is only concerned with staying in power and they will do anything, anything, to remain in power.  Promising the moon and the stars, they deliver only enslavement.

The last time I exchanged an email with Billy about voting, I stated something to the effect that I do not vote for individuals, I only vote on issues that effect my pocketbook, i.e. millage increases, tax issues etc.  I now want to formally state that I will not vote at all.  I acknowledge that my voting on issues that effected my pocketbook, affected each and every individuals pocketbook, and I apologize for contributing to the coercive power of the state, against each and every individual, both on a local and federal level.

I’m thinking clearly, now.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/31 at 06:28 PM
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A Psychiatric Experiment H.L. Mencken Would've Enjoyed

The Guardian Unlimited has printed a story, or, more accurately, an edited extract, from a book written by psychologist Lauren Slater, which relates the results of a repeated experiment.  The experiment was undertaken originally by psychologist David Rosenhan in 1972.  The experiment entails healthy, sane individuals attempting to get themselves admitted to psychiatric hospitals after not showering or shaving for five days and stating that they hear a voice.  The voice says “thud.” That’s it, nothing else, just “thud.” The results, are, to say the least, amusing.  Both in 1972 and in its most recent incarnation.

The story is entitled “Into the cuckoo’s nest." Here’s the link to part II.

I found the story immensely entertaining, and, would have thoroughly enjoyed being a participant.  The lovely Melis says that’s because I’m part crazy anyway.

Via Tyler Cowen posting over at The Volokh Conspiracy.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/31 at 09:16 AM
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Expanding Your Vocabulary

Samizdata’s Dale Amon offers “A suggestion for new terminology." I repost his suggestion, here, in its entirety.

"While reading some DOD press briefing transcripts tonight I was struck by the total dehumanization inherent in a person chosing to be a suicide bomber. At the instant they strap on the explosive belt or seat themselves in a car bomb they cease being a person. They become nothing but an expendable munition, bombs in a deceptively human form.

I suggest a new name for them: SPM’s.

Self Portable Munitions."

Posted by John Venlet on 01/31 at 08:47 AM
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Some Quotes

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!"

Benjamin Franklin

"In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant."

Charles de Gaulle

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government."

Edward Abbey

"Fifty-one percent of a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still remain democratic."

Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn

"Democracy is also a form of worship. It is the worship of Jackals by Jackasses."

H.L. Mencken

"Complete equality isn’t compatible with democracy, but it is a agreeable to tolitarianism. After all the only way to ensure the equality of the slothful, the inept and the immoral is to suppress everyone else."

Iain Benson

Posted by John Venlet on 01/31 at 07:32 AM
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Friday, January 30, 2004

To The Moon On Their Own

TransOrbital, Inc. is going to the moon. Not with humans on board, yet, but they are going.  According to the Space.com article, the company plans to launch late this year, from Russia, and, for a mere $2,500.00 per gram, you can have TransOrbital carry along something of your own for the ride and have it left on the lunar surface.  I wonder what NASA’s cost per gram lifted into orbit is?  Prior to depositing your contributions on the surface of the moon, TransOrbitals craft will orbit the moon for approximately three months sending back high res photos and HDTV-quality video.

The total mission cost, is a mere $20 million.

As Transorbital Inc.’s website states “The moon is open for business."

Excellent.

Link via Brian Doherty at Hit & Run.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/30 at 02:35 PM
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In The News

Shonk, over at Selling Waves, has been reading G.K. Chesterson’s The Ball and the Cross, and, ties a quote from said book, to a post by fellow contributor Curt, and then expands on that thought. The thought deals with what is in the news and objective reporting of the news.  Shonk’s conclusion.

"So what’s the solution? Well, to be honest, I’m not sure there is one, but it might be a good start to acknowledge that “journalistic objectivity” is not merely an unattainable goal, but actually a very harmful and oxymoronic conceit."

I gave up watching the teevee news about five years ago, encouraged by a friend to take a two week fast from the idoicies that beam into my living room, that continues to this day.  I still get a daily newspaper, but its value is mostly as a feed for local happenings.  I receive my news from the internet.  Granted, the content on the internet is basically the same as the content in dead tree print or moving pictures, but, at least I do not have to listen to some “news” reader’s tonal inflections, accompanied by a treacly smile, of approval or disapproval of what is being read.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/30 at 07:38 AM
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Davos Babble

I didn’t really pay any attention to the goings on at Davos when it was recently in the news.  I quickly scanned a few posts at various blogs.  Instapundit linked to a few comments and articles, one dealing with some praise for Clinton’s babbling, one dealing with anti-Americanism, an article by Thomas Friedman on the beef served, some comments by Virginia Postrel dealing with anti-Semitism at Davos, and a reader’s comments expressing being disturbed at a defaced American flag.  Ho, hum stuff.

Last night though, when I stopped by The Rule of Reason, I read this article by Skip Oliva. The headline for Skip’s article is "Who Will Lead the War on Altruism?," and the catalyst for the article was the following comment, uttered by a Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, as reported by Jay Nordlinger at NRO.

"She says that “the fundamental objective” of her company — the fundamental objective, mind you! — is not “to make money” but “to do good,” “to be a good international citizen.” When she says “make money,” she makes it sound so dirty. She borrows the old Quaker business about not just doing well but doing good."

Let that sink in for a moment.  Ponder the sheer imbecility of that statement.  If you are a stockholder in HP, consider calling your broker and selling all your shares, now, before you are dragged down in the abyss of dogooderism.  Exercise your rights as a stockholder and owner and get Fiorina fired, because, based on that statement, Fiorina has been unmasked.  Fiorina is not a businessperson, diligently working to maximize profits so you can earn dividends and build equity, she is simply wearing a business costume.  If Fiorina truly thinks HP’s fundamental objective is “to do good,” you are losing money already.  She is not a buisnessperson, she is a puppet, dancing on the strings of the government.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/30 at 06:47 AM
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Tell Me Something I Don't Know

Via Drudge, we are pointed to a Washington Post article titled “Hill Probers Fault Iraq Intelligence." Though the White House, apparently, still isn’t willing to acknowledge this publicly, as this statement from Condie Rice illustrates.

"Asked whether the intelligence was wrong, Rice demurred: “I don’t think . . . that we know the full story of what became of Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction.” Hussein, she added, “concealed hundreds of weapons-related activities and programs from the United Nations."

I don’t know about you, but I expect more from Condie Rice.  She’s intelligent.

Supposedly the lawmakers who “unearthed” these intelligence failures were surprised. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) likend it to a "runaway train" of failures.

Are we supposed to take this seriously?  Are we supposed to “believe” that just now, these intelligence failures are being “unearthed?” That lawmakers are just now figuring this out?Statements and articles such as these are simply a reflection of lawmakers’ disregard for individuals who can think.  It’s like they believe they are feeding a child sitting in a high chair strained peas.  Open wide, here comes airplane.  Mmm, isn’t that good?

Posted by John Venlet on 01/30 at 06:14 AM
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Thursday, January 29, 2004

The Continuing Search for Superconductivity

According to BBC News, scientists have created a new form of matter.  It is called “fermionic condensate." As stated in the article, "It could be a step closer to an everyday, usable superconductor - a material that conducts electricity without losing any of its energy."

Here’s a link to “The History of Superconductors."

BBC News link via Drudge.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/29 at 02:04 PM
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On Justice

Two quite interesting posts over at Catallarchy. The first post, written by Micha Ghertner, entitled “Many kinds of objective justice," explores whether justice can be objectively determined, or, if justice is only subjective.  I left one comment, in the thread discussing Micha’s post, in regards to objectively simplifying the matter under consideration by removing Marxist ideology from the objective analysis of justice.

The second post, written by Qiwi Lisolet, is entitled Is Justice Real? Qiwi’s post brings up the subjects of peace and prosperity, and, in the comment thread, equality.  Instead of leaving a comment in the thread, I’ll address these three, peace, prosperity and equality, here.

Equality, like peace and prosperity, is a nebulous term.  I think the only equality, that can be equal for all individuals, is the equality to be free from coercion.  There will never be equality of material possessions, there will never be equality of income, there will never be equality of intellect or educational level attained, or willingness to work, or food to eat, or shoes to wear.  Asking for equality in things, outside of freedom of coercion, is akin to asking for equality in the amount of snow, sunshine or rain received in your little part of the world.  It isn’t going to be equal.

Equality of peace and prosperity can be thought of in the same vein, and, the same conclusion will be arrived at.  Peace and prosperity are not going to be equally distributed, like rice was supposed to be in the book King Rat or opportunity and goods were supposed to be in the workers paradise of the Soviet Union.  It will not happen.  There will be wars, famines, poor people, rich people, smart people, dumb people, peace and prosperity will not be equally distributed.

Even achieving the equality of freedom from coercion is far from us.  There will always be individuals who will not play the game according to the rules of equality in freedom from coercion.  It will not happen, because there will always be inequality.  It is all around us.  If equality is so fervently desired, one may as well wish they were an cyanobacteria.

I think justice can be objectively determined, if and when, individuals are willing to admit that equality is utopian and inequality is fact.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/29 at 12:56 PM
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Royal Flush

Ace of hearts.
King of hearts.
Queen of hearts.
Jack of hearts.
Ten of hearts.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/29 at 08:27 AM
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The Spock Mind Meld

Godless, at Gene Expression, links to an interesting article on potentialites for reading minds being developed, as published in Stanford Magazine, and ethical concerns surrounding this potential.  Godless excerpts a good portion of the article, but the article is worth taking some time to read also.

Posted by John Venlet on 01/29 at 08:01 AM
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