A little link-blogging of some things that have caught my attention over the past week…
Benjamin Franklin explains why men should take old women as mistresses:
Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part: The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.
The whole letter is pretty amusing.
There’s at least one example of an “atheist in a foxhole”. Daniel C. Dennett–who wrote several books that I used as texts in my undergrad cognitive science days, and several other books that I read just for fun–nearly died a few weeks back from heart problems. Unlike many atheists who have death-bed conversions, Dennett’s experience only clarified his atheism. The piece he wrote two weeks after “the incident” makes for some interesting reading:
In other words, whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion holds its members to the high standards of moral responsibility that the secular world of science and medicine does! And I’m not just talking about the standards ‘at the top’—among the surgeons and doctors who make life or death decisions every day. I’m talking about the standards of conscientiousness endorsed by the lab technicians and meal preparers, too. This tradition puts its faith in the unlimited application of reason and empirical inquiry, checking and re-checking, and getting in the habit of asking “What if I’m wrong?” Appeals to faith or membership are never tolerated. Imagine the reception a scientist would get if he tried to suggest that others couldn’t replicate his results because they just didn’t share the faith of the people in his lab! And, to return to my main point, it is the goodness of this tradition of reason and open inquiry that I thank for my being alive today.
Colonel Rowe points out this little bit of YouTubery: using George Micheal and some excellent audio-visual juxtaposition to comment on George W. Bush.
I am always impressed when visuals can so change the meaning of lyrics.
I heard this week that Canada Customs actually is blocking Lost Girls. I didn’t have any trouble getting my copy, of course, perhaps due to some “mysterious circumstances”. I wish I could find some more authoritative information on this whole situation, but Christopher Butcher‘s comment on the posting is all I need to consider it confirmed. The other comments seem to suggest the situation will shortly resolve itself.
If I had more energy I would insert my standard rant about Canada Customs and their ridiculously broad powers of exclusion. And my standard rant about how stories and drawings should never be illegal, regardless of what they depict–it smacks of thought police. Just pretend I did the whole thing.
I think I’m contractually required to say “it’s much better now“.
What’s even more depressing than contemplating how the Republicans have already stolen the mid-term elections?
Well, wallowing in the mire that is modern American racism is more depressing.
Take this article where racists explain how they became racists. It’s compelling in that way completely disgusting things are often fascinating–like looking at the Abu Ghraib photos.
I’m not going to quote from the text here, since I don’t want that kind of Google Juice. Hell, I’m even linking through TinyUrl.
I think the worst part is the hyposcrisy. I could more easily forgive honestly expressed fear or hatred than this stuff. “Racial consciousness”. Phui.
Oh, and look at this.
