OMG my best friend is being featured for this HCG Ultra dieting product!!!!
She dropped 31 pounds in one month! I am so jealous!!!
Damn im getting some of this stuff before spring break comes.
So, it’s a long weekend. I hope you’re not holed up reading Ayn Rand. What’s your definition of a good time? Will you be hopping into the car, and getting out of the city? Are you of the temperment to enjoy a retreat to the bucolic countryside now & then?
Being holed up with Ayn Rand would have been more enjoyable. I spent that weekend and the last writing. These days things are rather hectic, and I’m doing my best to remain disciplined and productive. Sort of a work hard now, relax later mentality. Had I not spent the last two decades being a relative slacker, I might afford myself more liberties.
It’s not all hard work and no play, though, and the future will likely bring some level of relaxation or, at the very least, a greater variety of backdrops.
What was the scariest moment of your life?
I honestly can’t recall the scariest moment of my life. Maybe that’s not so surprising, though, as it would probably not be something that I’d easily be bringing back to consider. I don’t think I’ve had many moments where I’ve experienced any fear of a tangible nature, but I know logically everyone must have a “scariest moment” of some kind. Unfortunately, it’s a mystery to me.
As a writer, with your Poli/Com score, there’s a returning prisoner who might appreciate some letters. Once he’s back inside, use the ‘inmate locater’ at the Federal Bureau of Prisons site; find Conrad Black and get his location - could be a book in it!
Very clever, and not an entirely bad idea, but I’d have to brush up on my etiquette, because speaking with Lords is unfortunately outside the realm of my experience. I actually haven’t been following that case, but it seems at an initial glance anyway, that there was quite a bit of over-reaction and a rush to prosecute on pretty shaky grounds.
Remember the “neo-con” revolution? It was really about neo-liberalism, and had precious little to do with conservatism. If you’d like to get a clearer idea of your political/economic leanings, take the test at Political Compass (org). Share your results.
I’ve taken this test before. My results are very similar now to what they were a couple of years back. I’m near an exact match with Milton Friedman on the graph.
Specifically:
Economic Left/Right: 7.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.51
Not overly surprising to me, as I am a firm believer in his economic policies and champion a responsible government that is very limited in it’s scope.
Not the sort of work I’d otherwise associate with Maugham, I read “The Magician”. It’s made me wonder whether the current era of science and technology has any room for notions as quaint as magic. Do you think there’s a place here and now for mysticism?
I’ve yet to read any Maugham, I’m afraid, but I have read a fair bit of Crowley, who apparently was largely the inspiration for The Magician. It’s an interesting question, and one I probably would have answered differently in the not-so-distance past.
Crowley’s stated objective, was the merging of science and religion, which is a lofty goal, but not one that I believe he truly accomplished his lifetime, as evidenced by the collapse of the orders he oversaw upon his death and the general obscurity that his work is now relegated to. Not that I would expect Crowley to have ever been mainstream, and certainly there is still ghosts of Crowley about in popular culture, although they’re often too subtle to catch hold of. He certainly seems to have been an influential man. I’m continually surprised by just how many other notable people from his time he was connected to in some way. It’s quite amazing really.
As for mysticism, I think it has little place. Crowley’s process was “the aim of religion, the method of science”. I think there is other indicators that we’ve moved beyond a point of being the effect of the unexplainable. I believe there is certainly a place for spiritual technology, but I do not believe that Crowley’s system would do that justice, although I would say that his approach, as stated, if not as actually applied by himself, is noteworthy.
Mysticism to me, is sort of a negative term. It’s characterized by mystery, which is all too often a tool to control others through lies or illusions. When one has the technology, the need for mystery ends. When a society is subject to an imbalance of technological understanding, mystery takes hold, whether it’s high priests wear robes (I include judges here) or lab coats.
I do believe magic, as a notion, has a place. In the way that we may understand something to work, and be useable but may not yet understand the mechanism behind how it does. The magic of yesterday becomes the science of tomorrow. I believe there is a lot yet to be discovered or explained in the realm of intention, belief, and will, that definitely could be characterized as magical.
Not the sort of work I’d otherwise associate with Maugham, I read “The Magician”. It’s made me wonder whether the current era of science and technology has any room for notions as quaint as magic. Do you think there’s a place here and now for mysticism?
I’ve yet to read any Maugham, I’m afraid, but I have read a fair bit of Crowley, who apparently was largely the inspiration for The Magician. It’s an interesting question, and one I probably would have answered differently in the not-so-distance past.
Crowley’s stated objective, was the merging of science and religion, which is a lofty goal, but not one that I believe he truly accomplished his lifetime, as evidenced by the collapse of the orders he oversaw upon his death and the general obscurity that his work is now relegated to. Not that I would expect Crowley to have ever been mainstream, and certainly there is still ghosts of Crowley about in popular culture, although they’re often too subtle to catch hold of. He certainly seems to have been an influential man. I’m continually surprised by just how many other notable people from his time he was connected to in some way. It’s quite amazing really.
As for mysticism, I think it has little place. Crowley’s process was “the aim of religion, the method of science”. I think there is other indicators that we’ve moved beyond a point of being the effect of the unexplainable. I believe there is certainly a place for spiritual technology, but I do not believe that Crowley’s system would do that justice, although I would say that his approach, as stated, if not as actually applied by himself, is noteworthy.
Mysticism to me, is sort of a negative term. It’s characterized by mystery, which is all too often a tool to control others through lies or illusions. When one has the technology, the need for mystery ends. When a society is subject to an imbalance of technological understanding, mystery takes hold, whether it’s high priests wear robes (I include judges here) or lab coats.
I do believe magic, as a notion, has a place. In the way that we may understanding something to work, and be useable but may not yet understand the mechanism behind how it does. The magic of yesterday becomes the science of tomorrow. I believe there is a lot yet to be discovered or explained in the realm of intention, belief, and will, that definitely could be characterized as magical.
If you were a Transformer, what would you transform into?
A Ducati motorcycle. The real question is which model, and would require a long time to answer.
What was the worst place you’ve traveled to?
It may not be fair, but the place that comes to mind is New Orleans, but very specifically Bourbon Street. Having said that, I’d like to point out that it was a great experience being in New Orleans, and I’d love to return. Bourbon Street itself, however, was not exactly what I expected, and I fail to see the draw for people. It’s just an overall unpleasant and unimpressive area, although I did discover some very good Italian food, of all things, while I was there.
What’s your favorite genre of music?
I have really diverse musical interests, so it’d be difficult to accurately pin down one definitive music genre that I’d consider my favorite. I’m particularly attached to varieties of metal characterized by mostly European bands, and “trip hop”. I prefer female vocalists most times, although I really appreciate pairing female vocals with male, in a sort of “light and darkness” affect that bands like Theatre of Tragedy and Cradle of Filth have accomplished. That being said, I listen to a lot of current mainstream music, too, as the favorites on my YouTube account can attest to.
