copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
The Next Civil War
The next American Civil War will be the red states versus the blue states. This will be essentially the East versus the West, or the "coasts" versus "the heartland." After a bloody and protracted war that will effectively destroy every major population center in the USA -- "the coasts" or "The West" will win, largely because of foreign intervention and supplies from overseas. Prepare for doom.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Building Walls
When thinking about Trump's "Mexico wall" I had this idea:
I think we should start building walls all over the USA. We could eventually build a little safe prison cell for everyone. Cool. No?
We could even start a "protective wall organization" to help strategize the best way to avoid any real human contact in the future. This is exciting.
We could even start a "protective wall organization" to help strategize the best way to avoid any real human contact in the future. This is exciting.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Piano man
"I may not LOOK like I play the blues, but I sure do feel like it." - Mr. Atwater
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Humorous Thoughts
Laughter, or humor itself, can be viewed as the mind's "intellectual short cut" that ends an infinitely long (or deep) recursive logic loop of contradictory truth statements.
(Note: contradictory truth statements are statements that cannot both be true at the same time.)
(Note: contradictory truth statements are statements that cannot both be true at the same time.)
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
New Fascist Police State of America
Fascism is the political science philosophy that the Government's main priority is to insure corporate profitability. How are the current administration goals NOT Fascist?
Fascist philosophy has little to do with death camps, racist ideology, or new military hardware.
Fascism is a really just a method of prioritizing government objectives.
With ten times greater the number of prisoners than any other industrialized country (as measured by per capita ratios) the USA qualifies as a Police State.
"New Fascist Police State of America" -- You are either "in line" or you are "in trouble"
From Wikipedia:
Fascists believe that liberal democracy is obsolete, and they regard the complete mobilization of society under a totalitarian one-party state as necessary to prepare a nation for armed conflict and to respond effectively to economic difficulties.[7] Such a state is led by a strong leader—such as a dictator and a martial government composed of the members of the governing fascist party—to forge national unity and maintain a stable and orderly society.[7] Fascism rejects assertions that violence is automatically negative in nature, and views political violence, war, and imperialism as means that can achieve national rejuvenation.[8][9][10][11] Fascists advocate a mixed economy, with the principal goal of achieving autarky through protectionist and interventionist economic policies.[12]
Fascist philosophy has little to do with death camps, racist ideology, or new military hardware.
Fascism is a really just a method of prioritizing government objectives.
With ten times greater the number of prisoners than any other industrialized country (as measured by per capita ratios) the USA qualifies as a Police State.
"New Fascist Police State of America" -- You are either "in line" or you are "in trouble"
From Wikipedia:
Fascists believe that liberal democracy is obsolete, and they regard the complete mobilization of society under a totalitarian one-party state as necessary to prepare a nation for armed conflict and to respond effectively to economic difficulties.[7] Such a state is led by a strong leader—such as a dictator and a martial government composed of the members of the governing fascist party—to forge national unity and maintain a stable and orderly society.[7] Fascism rejects assertions that violence is automatically negative in nature, and views political violence, war, and imperialism as means that can achieve national rejuvenation.[8][9][10][11] Fascists advocate a mixed economy, with the principal goal of achieving autarky through protectionist and interventionist economic policies.[12]
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Black Triangle Dream
I had a dream about a Black Triangle once. The day that Hugo Chavez died (Venezuela) I dreamed that I was riding in a Black Triangle taxiing down the runway. We were standing in a line and watching the screen and Hugo Chavez was the crew commander. I said I didn't want to "take off" and they slowed down so I could crawl out a hatch in the floor in the back. I crawled down on the the runway and watched the Black Triangle take off.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Code of Ethics and Belief System
Two things people typically confuse that are actually entirely separate personal characteristics: 1. Code of Ethics, and 2. Belief System. Your Code of Ethics is the "rules" you use to govern your behavior like "Be honest", "Don't hit people", "Don't steal", or possibly "The ends justify the means",or "Do whatever it takes". Your Belief System is your understanding of how the Universe operates like "Scientific Determinism", "Supernatural Mystery", "Orthodox Scripture Description" Although we may think that our Code of Ethics is based on our Belief System, and it may substantially be identical, they are still two entirely different and separate parts of our life and our personality.
One of the tactics that politicians, and car salesmen, typically use is: to confuse and conflate the two ideas. The more they can create doubt in your mind, the more likely you will be to trust THEM. This is why philosophers rarely run for political office and prefer to live the life of a Hermit, or a monk.
To me, it is your Code of Ethics that is more interesting than your Belief System. I am only marginally interested in what you say you believe. I am not convinced that most of us really know what we really believe anyway. Most of what we actually say is just social conformity to expected norms and not a revelation of philosophical truth. On the other had, I am vitally interested in how you behave, and how you might behave in the future. This may directly effect me in a real and concrete way.
One of the tactics that politicians, and car salesmen, typically use is: to confuse and conflate the two ideas. The more they can create doubt in your mind, the more likely you will be to trust THEM. This is why philosophers rarely run for political office and prefer to live the life of a Hermit, or a monk.
To me, it is your Code of Ethics that is more interesting than your Belief System. I am only marginally interested in what you say you believe. I am not convinced that most of us really know what we really believe anyway. Most of what we actually say is just social conformity to expected norms and not a revelation of philosophical truth. On the other had, I am vitally interested in how you behave, and how you might behave in the future. This may directly effect me in a real and concrete way.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Monday, January 23, 2017
Life satisfaction
Theory:
1. The more time people spend sitting at a desk, or sitting in their car: the more they "hate their life."
2. The more time people spend walking, talking, standing,or watching: the more they "enjoy their life."
1. The more time people spend sitting at a desk, or sitting in their car: the more they "hate their life."
2. The more time people spend walking, talking, standing,or watching: the more they "enjoy their life."
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Saturday, January 21, 2017
DADA expression
DADA is more significant if you try to adopt it as a personal ethos: But don't be dishonest. Practice brutal honesty in silence. In cooking, put the least likely and most uncommon ingredients together. In music combine sounds that are alien and hostile to each other. In fashion, insist on wearing the wrong size clothes with color that makes no sense. Metaphorically "throw pearls before the swine" and then howl at the traffic light until you get a green arrow. Tristan Tzara has already mastered poetry and prose, but you could line your birdbath with a dictionary and then practice saxophone on the water pipe, or develop an entirely new method of thought..
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Thursday, January 19, 2017
The Secret Scream of Defiance
Whenever you are trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare of social control and you cannot escape. When other people dictate you movement, thoughts and actions and you are powerless to do anything except conform or "frantically fight for your life in an already doomed dance to the death"
DON'T DO ANYTHING. JUST STAY MOTIONLESS and REMEMBER
Remember the secret scream of defiance -- it is totally silent but in your mind it sounds like:
"YYEEEEEAAAAOOOOWWWAAA...ACHaCHaCHaCHaCHa...mmmmm...Oh Yeah..."
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
DADA philosophy
"Small perturbations of Logic are necessary, even fundamental, to the exercise of bicycle labor in the giant dymaxion congress of futility." - Zobo the Clown
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
The new "bad guy"
It occurred to me that in our WWII movies and TV media we have almost made Adolf Hitler into a culture hero on the scale of Darth Vader. Maybe it is only natural that if people have been programmed to "like" Hitler as a "bad guy" that they then would identify with (and vote for) someone who acts like him in their minds.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Monday, January 16, 2017
Empathetic Understanding
We are born selfish and needy infants,
helpless and demanding.
Slowly we learn of the surrounding world
and our empathetic understanding increases
in stages as we exercise the skill in our life.
helpless and demanding.
Slowly we learn of the surrounding world
and our empathetic understanding increases
in stages as we exercise the skill in our life.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
The Most Fun
When you are doing what you want to do:
When you are working for yourself:
Then,
The more efficiently it is done, the more fun it is.
The less efficient, the less fun.
The more you can master the greater your enjoyment.
A good example would be playing the piano or painting a picture.
And
On the other hand
When you are doing what you have to do, at someone else's command,
and you do not particularly care about the task or the results of the work
Then,
The converse becomes true.
The less efficiently it is done, the more fun it is.
And the more efficient, the less fun.
A good example would be picking up garbage, sorting and filing, or working in the yard.
When you are working for yourself:
Then,
The more efficiently it is done, the more fun it is.
The less efficient, the less fun.
The more you can master the greater your enjoyment.
A good example would be playing the piano or painting a picture.
And
On the other hand
When you are doing what you have to do, at someone else's command,
and you do not particularly care about the task or the results of the work
Then,
The converse becomes true.
The less efficiently it is done, the more fun it is.
And the more efficient, the less fun.
A good example would be picking up garbage, sorting and filing, or working in the yard.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
"It's all part of the FUN" - Mr. Atwater
When you have received some bad news, or were an unfortunate victim of a inauspicious coincidence, or you were just plain stupid and really "blew it," here is what you say to yourself:
"It's all part of the FUN."
Because in the end it is the richness and variety of life that make it enjoyable and who loves life more than someone who comes back from a loss and is able to record a triumphant victory in the arena of life? So, if life REALLY sucks and you don't know HOW you are possibly going to make it, just repeat to yourself:
"It's all part of the FUN." [And then, get back to work on fixing it up.]
Because in the end, you either will triumph and forget all about this little misfortune, or it will kill you and it won't really matter because you'll be dead. And if you are dead -- THEN it will probably make a good story for someone else to tell and you will [in a way] still be reminding people that:
"It's all part of the FUN."
"It's all part of the FUN."
Because in the end it is the richness and variety of life that make it enjoyable and who loves life more than someone who comes back from a loss and is able to record a triumphant victory in the arena of life? So, if life REALLY sucks and you don't know HOW you are possibly going to make it, just repeat to yourself:
"It's all part of the FUN." [And then, get back to work on fixing it up.]
Because in the end, you either will triumph and forget all about this little misfortune, or it will kill you and it won't really matter because you'll be dead. And if you are dead -- THEN it will probably make a good story for someone else to tell and you will [in a way] still be reminding people that:
"It's all part of the FUN."
copyright(c)2017
William Schaeffer
Life Sucks
"Life sucks, but so does everything else." - Mr. Atwater
copyright(c)2017
William Schaeffer
PTSD
The problem with PTSD and traumatic injury to the brain, is that there is no real recovery. Once the brain is broken, the brain is broken. This is why it would be nice to construct a more caring and loving society to begin with, so we do NOT have so many brain injuries in the first place. It would be nice to live in a society where we do NOT have to throw people away in the streets and make them live in tents like animals.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Early Human Cities
If humans first appeared 200,000 years ago, why did it take them 195,000 years to learn to build a city or a town? I would think that if they WERE human, they would have started building cities A LOT earlier.
Human intelligence has not changed significantly in that time span of 200,000 years. However the sea level has changed. From 200,000 BC until 10,000 BC the sea level was 400 feet lower than it is today. The sea level had been at that place for the previous two million years. Four hundred feet lower than today. The entire continental shelf was exposed and the edge of the continental shelf is where the water met the land.
Conclusion and prediction: Human cities were built on land that is now all under water. We will find the ruins of Ancient human city that still exist on the edge of the continental shelf. We have evidence of Neanderthal Mining operations a hundred thousand years ago, why NOT human cities?
Human intelligence has not changed significantly in that time span of 200,000 years. However the sea level has changed. From 200,000 BC until 10,000 BC the sea level was 400 feet lower than it is today. The sea level had been at that place for the previous two million years. Four hundred feet lower than today. The entire continental shelf was exposed and the edge of the continental shelf is where the water met the land.
Conclusion and prediction: Human cities were built on land that is now all under water. We will find the ruins of Ancient human city that still exist on the edge of the continental shelf. We have evidence of Neanderthal Mining operations a hundred thousand years ago, why NOT human cities?
copyright (c) 20167
William Schaeffer
Sunday, January 8, 2017
The movies and TV
One of the functions of popular entertainment is to distract you from the economic reality of your own existence and keep you laboring "in your harness" until you realize that it is too late to escape.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Saturday, January 7, 2017
The Potato Dance
One Potato,
Two Potato
Three Potato,
Four.
I ate my bag
and it ain't no more.
Two Potato
Three Potato,
Four.
I ate my bag
and it ain't no more.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Love and Hate
Response to a comment in an Alan Watts talk that: "hate is the opposite of love."
I tend to think this statement represents a misunderstanding of love. To me, love is wanting to be in the same "space" with someone (or something) else. Love is the universal law of attraction. Love has no real opposite, except possibly apathy or indifference. Love is a force of attraction. There is no opposite to gravity, there is no opposite to light. Darkness is the absence of light, but darkness does not negate light. Hate is a fearful perversion of love, a twisted mutant emotion that wants to be in the same "space" as someone else, but is fearful and uncertain. This hate manifests itself as wanting to destroy the thing it wants to be close to, but it never succeeds. Hate is never satisfied and is self destroying. Love is always satisfied and is self perpetuating, and self generating, and ever renewing force of growth in the Universe.
I tend to think this statement represents a misunderstanding of love. To me, love is wanting to be in the same "space" with someone (or something) else. Love is the universal law of attraction. Love has no real opposite, except possibly apathy or indifference. Love is a force of attraction. There is no opposite to gravity, there is no opposite to light. Darkness is the absence of light, but darkness does not negate light. Hate is a fearful perversion of love, a twisted mutant emotion that wants to be in the same "space" as someone else, but is fearful and uncertain. This hate manifests itself as wanting to destroy the thing it wants to be close to, but it never succeeds. Hate is never satisfied and is self destroying. Love is always satisfied and is self perpetuating, and self generating, and ever renewing force of growth in the Universe.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Very Likeable
"I still consider myself very likeable" - Tristan Tzara
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Terrence McKenna
1. Do not believe.
2. Do not follow.
3. Do not consume.
4. Do not watch.
Believe in Mathematics.
Follow Gravity.
Consume Time.
Watch the Stars.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
2. Do not follow.
3. Do not consume.
4. Do not watch.
Believe in Mathematics.
Follow Gravity.
Consume Time.
Watch the Stars.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Monday, January 2, 2017
The Wild Flower
Remember the wild flower. It is a hardy little weed that can move slowly into an untended field with all his sturdy little friends. Then at some time that is absolutely unexpected, they all bloom together and transform the land into a surprisingly beautiful sight.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Sunday, January 1, 2017
A Military Economy is no economy at all
A Military Economy is no economy at all.
This is actually a profound realization that the current economic model in USA is broken. Military spending is not beneficial for the economy, because military products are not used to create more wealth. Military products just sit there like throwing money in a pit. Products like a tractor, a book, food, a car, a machine, clothing, shoes, paint, soap -- all work to help people generate more money. Military products just sit there, or actually destroy wealth. In the long run, the economy is doomed.
This is actually a profound realization that the current economic model in USA is broken. Military spending is not beneficial for the economy, because military products are not used to create more wealth. Military products just sit there like throwing money in a pit. Products like a tractor, a book, food, a car, a machine, clothing, shoes, paint, soap -- all work to help people generate more money. Military products just sit there, or actually destroy wealth. In the long run, the economy is doomed.
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
Remember the Potato
You can buy a bag of potatoes for a dollar at 99 cent only store. You can live for a week on a bag of potatoes. All you need is a microwave and some salt. It helps to have a knife, fork and plate also. I discovered this trick when I broke my neck last year. I knew there was no one to help me so I asked a neighbor to buy me a bag of potatoes. I lived for weeks on potatoes and never went hungry. I was fortunate I thought of THAT.
I developed many different way to prepare potatoes and am eating a whole bag right now in honor of the event. My favorite is baked potato with teryaki sauce and soy sauce (with no salt and no butter). The soy sauce is salty and the teryaki sauce is kind of sweet. Very flavorful. I also like baked potato with salt, butter, and tomato catsup. Another good option is baked potato with barbeque sauce, salt, and butter. Another favorite is baked potato with tomato salsa and taco sauce. There have to be more good combinations. I am avoiding sour cream, or ranch salad dressing, but the ranch salad dressing idea is tempting.
One reason my recovery was so successful is that I think I consider myself to be a practical optimist. I recognize how the world really sucks, but I try to make the best of it philosophically, honestly, and creatively. Honesty is the most important to me. AND -- I work hard and I do not cheat.
(Well, I try to cheat as little as possible when I can actually control my more devilish impulses...)
HAHA
I have to laugh that a tiny bag of nuts costs the same as a huge bag of potatoes. AND for the cost of a cheeseburger and fries, you could fill the back seat of your car with bags of potatoes.
Boiling water on top of the stove scares me. I am forgetful. I am afraid I would start a fire. One thing I like about potatoes is they are self contained and EASY. Put a potato in the microwave for five minutes and it is ready to eat. If you forget about it, it will still be there -- no problem.
I love using the microwave and prefer it to the stove or oven. I got one for $20 used. A bargain at a GoodWill store 5 years ago. You can buy a "good condition" used microwave at a GoodWill store.
As far as I can tell the only real danger from using the microwave is possible radiation exposure from standing too close to an old microwave (with "bad seals") while it is in operation. The microwave does not "leave radiation in your food." Microwave operates by exciting water molecules and this is what generates the heat. No water = no heat. There is no "residual radiation."
Experts say, "18 inches is the minimum distance one should stand away from the microwave while it is operational."
A potato is a good source of fiber. According to Wikipedia a potato with 163 calories has 4.7 grams of fiber. This is 2.88 grams of fiber for 100 calories or almost 3 grams of fiber for 100 calories.
Apparently, the potatoes in the Irish Potato Famine were all descended from just a few original potatoes brought over by the conquistadors in Spain. (the potato is originally from Peru and was unknown before 1500 CE in Europe). Because ALL the potatoes in Ireland were so similar genetically, they were exceptionally vulnerable to the Potato Blight that killed the potatoes and caused the great potato famine in Ireland. This reduced the population by 20 - 25% Almost 12% died of starvation. Another 12% of the population of Ireland migrated to North America and almost 40% of THEM died en route to North America. (facts from Wikipedia.org)
"Any man that likes potatoes cannot be all bad." - Dr. Tony Bravado
I developed many different way to prepare potatoes and am eating a whole bag right now in honor of the event. My favorite is baked potato with teryaki sauce and soy sauce (with no salt and no butter). The soy sauce is salty and the teryaki sauce is kind of sweet. Very flavorful. I also like baked potato with salt, butter, and tomato catsup. Another good option is baked potato with barbeque sauce, salt, and butter. Another favorite is baked potato with tomato salsa and taco sauce. There have to be more good combinations. I am avoiding sour cream, or ranch salad dressing, but the ranch salad dressing idea is tempting.
One reason my recovery was so successful is that I think I consider myself to be a practical optimist. I recognize how the world really sucks, but I try to make the best of it philosophically, honestly, and creatively. Honesty is the most important to me. AND -- I work hard and I do not cheat.
(Well, I try to cheat as little as possible when I can actually control my more devilish impulses...)
HAHA
I have to laugh that a tiny bag of nuts costs the same as a huge bag of potatoes. AND for the cost of a cheeseburger and fries, you could fill the back seat of your car with bags of potatoes.
Boiling water on top of the stove scares me. I am forgetful. I am afraid I would start a fire. One thing I like about potatoes is they are self contained and EASY. Put a potato in the microwave for five minutes and it is ready to eat. If you forget about it, it will still be there -- no problem.
I love using the microwave and prefer it to the stove or oven. I got one for $20 used. A bargain at a GoodWill store 5 years ago. You can buy a "good condition" used microwave at a GoodWill store.
As far as I can tell the only real danger from using the microwave is possible radiation exposure from standing too close to an old microwave (with "bad seals") while it is in operation. The microwave does not "leave radiation in your food." Microwave operates by exciting water molecules and this is what generates the heat. No water = no heat. There is no "residual radiation."
Experts say, "18 inches is the minimum distance one should stand away from the microwave while it is operational."
A potato is a good source of fiber. According to Wikipedia a potato with 163 calories has 4.7 grams of fiber. This is 2.88 grams of fiber for 100 calories or almost 3 grams of fiber for 100 calories.
Apparently, the potatoes in the Irish Potato Famine were all descended from just a few original potatoes brought over by the conquistadors in Spain. (the potato is originally from Peru and was unknown before 1500 CE in Europe). Because ALL the potatoes in Ireland were so similar genetically, they were exceptionally vulnerable to the Potato Blight that killed the potatoes and caused the great potato famine in Ireland. This reduced the population by 20 - 25% Almost 12% died of starvation. Another 12% of the population of Ireland migrated to North America and almost 40% of THEM died en route to North America. (facts from Wikipedia.org)
"Any man that likes potatoes cannot be all bad." - Dr. Tony Bravado
copyright (c) 2017
William Schaeffer
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