Political Dump

[waldopaper]

Oh... don't look at the crash. Damn... you looked. "Politics" are useless. But you can't avoid looking at the wreck. Then you wish you hadn't. Dump it on this thread. Maybe we can get it out of our system.

[pan]

But how will we know if Zager and Evans were correct?

In 8th grade CCD class sitting at 4th graders' desks in St. Cecilia School, I watched with astonished bemusement when Sister Patrice played that song on a Califone record player (they were basically indestructable and had variable speed control) and looked very meaningful at us as she stopped the record after each line, repeated it to the class and tried to get us to discuss how a non-christian, secular society was going to bring us the edge of destruction.

Many years later I heard that she had left the order and was in a long-term lesbian relationship.

[BO]

"But how will we know if Zager and Evans were correct?"

That raises an interesting point. According to Wikipedia, Fox wasn't thrilled with the theme of the movie (Idiocracy), and didn't want to release it...

As of February 2005 the film's scheduled release date was August 5, 2005, according to Mike Judge.[5] In April 2006, a release date was set for September 1, 2006. In August, numerous articles[6] revealed that release was to be put on hold indefinitely. Idiocracy was released as scheduled but only in seven cities (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Toronto, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Mike Judge's hometown, Austin), and expanded to only 125 theaters, not the usual wide release of 2500-3000 theaters. According to the Austin American-Statesman[7], 20th Century Fox, the film's distributor, did nothing to promote the movie — while posters were released to theatres, no movie trailers, television ads, or press kits for media outlets were provided. The film was not screened for critics.[8] Lack of concrete information from 20th Century Fox led to speculation that Fox may have actively tried to keep the film from being seen by a large audience, while fulfilling a contractual obligation for theatrical release prior to a DVD release, according to Ryan Pearson of AP.[9] In the New York Times Dan Mitchell argued that Fox might be shying away from a cautionary tale about low-intelligence dysgenics.[10] John Patterson of The Guardian suggests it is a result of the film's anti-corporate message, noting that in the film Starbucks now delivers handjobs, and the motto of Carl's Jr. has devolved from "Don't Bother Me. I'm Eating." to "Fuck You! I'm Eating!"[11] Also in the film, a Carl's Jr. vending machine cheats a customer, Fuddruckers' name gradually morphs into "Buttfuckers", the fictional Brawndo corporation buys the F.D.A. and the F.C.C, and the Fox News Channel is depicted in unflattering newscasts (20th Century Fox, which distributed the film, and the Fox News Channel are both owned by the Rupert Murdoch-controlled News Corporation).

Damn. The truth hurts. Let's keep it from the sheeples.

[waldopaper]

Were I in an academic environment where such things as the dysgenic nature of culture are discussed... which I'm not and they don't... I would strongly disagree with the whole concept of dysgenic (or eugenic)... on the grounds of our poor understanding of "natural selection" ...because of our poor understanding of the relationship between "nature" and "culture" ... because of our limited understanding of either one of those (nature/ culture).

Oh yeah... there's plenty of bitching around the coffee machine about "kids getting dummer," But that ends up being "dummer by our standards," which I don't see as being especially keen. You note in the Idiocracy, being dum has definite selection advantages. Culture, being whateverthefuck the collective of "civilization" is, grows further away from nature... matter-energy, monetary culture. So hearing facul-fucks braying about stupidity while "training" stoods to "compete" in the "job market" by teaching them corporate dogma gets a little fucking annoying. I agree with Bo that Ma Nature is calling in Her chips... but if the "collective" is necessary for "survival" in terms of eating and not freezing... I'd say being dum is a definite advantage... and being "smart" is a real disadvantage. The sheeples know this. They see it every day.

Just today I heard a ditty on NPR about how airports are "accommodating business travelers" during their layovers/ flight cancellations... by installing gyms and fitness centers... complete with testimonials from corp-ladder climbers how good it was to get a "good workout" during their 4-hour delay... nobody even MENTIONED reading a fucking BOOK. Cuz...dur... howz dat gonna keep ur abs flat. Cuz everybody knows... having a nice butt gets u furthur in "todays competitive environment" than a nice brain... which nobody can see anyway. No... it aint dysgenic... just the OPPOSITE. Idiocracy is a very logical extension of the remainder living after the die-off in the vestigial infrastructure left behind by "smart guys" centuries ago. Automating the infrastructure will let the survivors work on important stuff like their abs and boobs... gaining that ol reproductive advantage for the genes and memes.

Being somewhat of a memeticist, I would posit that the cultural environment is evolving in ways to favor the meme just as the natural environment is preparing the boobs and abs for reproductive advantage for the gene.

[BO]

Truth be known, carrying capacity will have more to do with our demise than dysgenics. Man has completely subverted the function of natural selection -- at least in recent history. Not to say that natural selection wouldn't come back into play if the shit were to really hit the fan and we were all living hand to mouth in a hunter/gatherer fashion once again.

The theme of Idiocracy had more to do with today's culture than any future scenario. We are already living the inherent message. That's why the movie is so damn funny. Every scenario is simply an amplification of what is already happening in modern society. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize what is already in motion.

But culture really isn't that important. The earth doesn't care if you're P-diddy or Pavoratti. But it does impose certain rules in regard to its ability to support life. Rules which are scientifically quantifiable yet the human race in its hubris, greed and self-denial has chosen to ignore. In my mind, our demise will have more to do with our lack of character than our lack of intelligence. We know what to do. We simply lack the will to do it.

[waldopaper]

Aw Jeez... this is REALLY fucked up: no doubt you've heard of the FBI "deputizing" business... discussion of InfraGard is on Metafilter. ... "a collaboration for infrastructure protection." And YOU can become a "member!" We got a "chapter" here in Duckberg... and I checked out the usual list of Barney-Fife cops and korporat "networking" volk. Sorry, Cascadians... but YOU can't see who's a member without your secret decoder ring...

O course this gets all the Secret Squirrel types to hunt for their decoder ring when el guvamunto is layin some turds of their own. If there were any real "terrorists," can you imagine how easy it would be for them to out/ destroy/ avoid/ or better yet... employ these idiocrats?

[Mouse]

And here is something so cheery that I missed in November, how about this snippet of delightful news:
American Psychiatric Association Assembly Unanimously Backs Medical Marijuana

http://salem-news.com/articles/november072007/med_psyc_11707.php

[Gavin]

I've seen a couple research papers come out in recent months, that have been conducted over recent years, that have conterdicted the mainstream preconceptions about pot.

I don't have the willpower to go search out the links... mainly because I'm high right now.

But the general gist of the evidence seems to be that while there are heavy carcinogens in marijuana smoke they are largely counterdicted by the anti-carcinogenic properties of THC (or other chemicals I'm too high to remember right now.)

But the right has come out with these couple doubious studies that contained less than 7 or so pot smokers in a national survey of lung cancer patients and they have been claiming (thourough mass email campiagns and not scientific, peer-reviewed papers) that the carcinogenic effects of smoking pot are something like thirty times the effects of tobacco.

Even if there wasn't a massive (and I do mean MASSIVE) body of evidence contridicting their "findings" I would have to say that the specific effects that they talk about (lung cancer and tar buildup) are totally negated by smoking pot through water or vaporizing it.

The medicinal effects far outweigh the risks in every objective study done since we started studiying pot for purposes other than fiber products.

This subject is one of the perfect examples of corporate personhood screwing a purely acceptable sustainable cash crop for the US.

[Mouse]

Here we are, Gavin:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/armentano-p/armentano-p10.htm

For the sake of younger readers, would just like to mention that this beautiful herb is not suitable for people under the age of 18, because the brain needs to be fully developed. Otherwise there can be serious problems. So, patience and good sense dears...

[Gavin]

Also, for the sake of young readers, I would like to mention that Red Lake 40, Red Dye 25, high fructose corn syrup, floride (found in most tap water across the US), Mercury (also found in most tap water across the US), arsnic (found at the highest levels in our tap water since 1970 throughout most of the US), industrial pesticides, emissions from vehicles (which most of us breathe more than we do second hand smoke... unless you're a smoker who's been saving his second hand smoke just for a special occasion), pig shit (one of the largest contributing factors of water-born illness in the US), DDT (still used in most of the Americas, ouside the US and Canada, where most of our processed foods come from... and that means you mac and cheese as well as your microwavable buritto), petrolieum products (which leach off of the billions of acres of pavement that the US has laid down over formerly very useful land, not to mention the billions of gallons of petrolium products in the poisonus form of insecticides, pesticies and herbicides that leach into our water tables every day), nuclear wast e(which is building up to very dangerous levels in unprotected storage facilities nationwide. There is no reliable way to store it and as a result, over the decdes, many storage facilities have lied about the ground-water contamination from their plant... and the public has suffered from such stupidity.), sulfer emmisions (which lead to acid rain and come from everything from your car to coal fired power plant), GMO's (who's effects we are only guessiong at) and PCBs (found in damn near every plastic product made since the begining of plastic) are all much much worse for you than a joint... or any number of joints by factor of at least fifty.

All a joint will do (according to recent, verifiable, scientific data from respectable institutions) is reduce your risk for lung cancer (so long as you never smoke too much tobacco) as well as other cancers, make you stupid (many neural studies suggest that marijuana promotes the growth of new and more varied connections within the brain, so it might not make you stupid for long), make you lazy (this is fact), make you apathetic (but sometimes it helps to be a bit apathetic just to get through the day) and will make you sleepy depending on your physiology. Just don't smoke it too much becasue, like all things, anything done in excess will turn you into Mr. T.

In conclusion, for the younger readers, I too do not think that the ganja is suitable for those under 18... but only because forums such as this are monitored.

Pepsi is about a thousand times more dangerous than a joint.

And they want you to buy Pepsi... think about it.

Do you want to be fat and dead or stoned and happy?

[Mouse]

I stand corrected Gavin.
http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/

Also
In the November issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers announce that they have found that cannabinoids promoted a generation of new neurons in rats' hippocampi. The study held true for both a plant-derived and a synthetic cannabinoid. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that contributes to learning and memory. In particular, it has been shown that the hippocampus is essential for the formation of new episodic memories.
"This is quite a surprise, chronic use of marijuana may actually improve learning memory when the new neurons in the hippocampus can mature in two or three months," said Xia Zhang, with the Neuropsychiatry Research Unit of the University of Saskatchewan.
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Study_finds_marijuana_use_leads_to_brai...

[Gavin]

I always found it interesting that so many of the smartest people I know, who are currently either busy obtaining PHDs or involved in some really magnificent projects, were chronic marajuana smokers. I knew that he anti-pot propaganda was crap but it never occured to me that there might be areason why all these smart people spend so much time stoned.

They were busy growing better brains through medicine!

It will be interesting so see what the research into cabinoids leads to as far as pharmeseuticals.

[Mouse]

I cannot agree that cannabis makes one lazy and apathetic. I've been thinking about it.

Take me now for example. This evening building assiduously to an elevated state of focus in which to do the huge amount of varied work that needs to be done simply in order to keep treading water as a conscious member of the human race.

Been on granny duty all day every day this week as it's half-term, all excursions to shops and library on foot and usually pushing industrial bicycle with four year old genius atop. All despite heart condition and acute need to be solitary and creative. Good spirit maintained nevertheless, and answering all questions as honestly as I am able, her mum finds my influence on her very good, calming.

Now I have an evening and a day to myself and need to make breakthroughs in a number of directions, creeping out onto further nodes on different branches of thought and endeavour at the same time, as one does.

Whilst approaching bankruptcy, ha, like so many of us these days. Luckily I've always been hard up, so it's not a shock. Shock and upset I steer around as much as I can because of the heart and stress creating awful effects very suddenly, related to patchy perfusion in the bottom of the heart from which sincerity flows I understand and a dyssynchronous septum, from which pain flows from time to time).

BUT steering round upset does not include ignoring the grim circumstance of a world in thrall to a peculiar laziness of thought that does not permit people to notice the rising temperature of the waters in which they bathe, atop the stove in the kitchen where their goose is being cooked, and the geese of all our children.

Also, in order to paint from the wild side on the mysterious edge of knowing nothing at all it is necessary to face with aplomb the blitz and tornado of passion and memory that accompanies the presence of a palette on the table and a paintbrush in the hand.

Hence this evening, must return to the coffee pot and the green stuff that helps the steady placing of each foot upon the shifting stair....