[an excerpt from The Blasphemy Tour, written as Jass Richards] “We hope you’re enjoying Texas?” the show’s host said, after he introduced Dylan and Rev as his first guests of the day. “Well, we’re a little puzzled by all the American flags. Outside on people’s houses and their lawns—we’ve even been seeing them sticking …
Category: uncategorized
Mar 06 2013
The Problem with Democracy
The problem with democracy is that it’s just an appeal to the majority. And most people, the majority, simply want whatever’s in their own, personal, best interest. We are a nation of egoists. Average life span what it is, personal interests are necessarily short-term. Average intelligence what it is, personal interests are also immediate and …
Feb 21 2013
Asking the Right Questions
Never has it been more important to ask the right questions. Not as philosophers, in the clearest, most explicit, terms, but in terms most likely to be used by the arrested-development minds of computer programmers. Because phone conversations, for example, aren’t with people anymore; they’re with AI programs that are, let’s face it, stupider than …
Dec 27 2012
Assholes or Idiots (take your pick)
Every now and then I hear something really insightful on tv. What recently caught my mind was an explanation of the behavior of one of the alphas on, of course, Alphas. Rosen says that Marcus can see twenty moves ahead and doesn’t understand why others can’t; so when what they do harms him, he believes …
Dec 06 2012
In Praise of Dead Air
People are uncomfortable with silence. On the radio, over the telephone, in person. It’s a curious thing. We are obsessed with filling up the air space. That sounds very male – the need to occupy territory (take a look at how men sit, their legs crossed open and their arms resting on the backs of …
Nov 22 2012
The Road to Hell
I’ve reconsidered intent-based moralities. They’re bloody irresponsible. I’m giving new meaning to “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” (or maybe I’m just finally understanding it). Intention-based moralities are for people too stupid or too lazy to consider the consequences of their actions. “But I didn’t mean to” is the cry of an …
Aug 27 2012
We Pay People who Pretend to be Doctors …
So the other day I caught a glimpse, by accident, of one of those entertainment shows, on which someone talks about and to actors, rock stars, and so on, and it hit me: we pay people who pretend to be doctors more than we pay people who actually are doctors. H7WV382QQHUR
Aug 16 2012
Cultural Anarchy
Why is it that so many people claim, usually with considerable passion, “I’m an American!” or “I’m Canadian” or what have you? To identify yourself by country is to accept the territorial divisions made by people with economic power eager to retain that power. So why the passion?
Jul 29 2012
Digital Thought
On/off, yes/no, either/or, in/out, for/against, male/female, win/lose, true/false, right/wrong, black/white, all/nothing, 0/1. Preachers do it. Lawyers do it. Why have we become so enamoured with digital thought? What’s the attraction? It’s precise. Precision is good. It’s fast. We like that. It’s easy. We like that even more. But any educator will tell you that T/F …
Jul 09 2012
Speaking in Code
“I just can’t give any more, sorry.” But of course he can. He just doesn’t want to. By saying “can’t” instead of “won’t”, however, he appears powerless and thus absolves himself of responsibility; as a result, we don’t even consider the matter of blame. “That’s not gonna happen.” Okay. So informed, we move on. But …
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