Mature Landscaping

Or like those who link back to insult new Follower...

2010-03-10T19:27:54.740-08:00

Or like those who link back to insult new Followers to their blog. Yeah, that's the ticket!

Dysrationality -- you mean, like those who follow ...

2010-03-10T11:14:26.563-08:00

Dysrationality -- you mean, like those who follow Anthony Watts for no rationally discernible reason?

You're right, Jack; it comes down to how much dist...

2010-03-09T19:47:59.902-08:00

You're right, Jack; it comes down to how much distrust I can stand, how closely I can bear to watch, and still carry on in tough times. I function in waves...periods of greater trust in leadership and periods of less; periods of more questioning and study of national and international issues and periods of focus on matters closer to home, like voting with my fork or meditating regularly; periods where I retreat into distractions and all the denial I can lay hands on and periods of attempts at a reality check.

Mine is a limited amount of courage that dwindles with age, which is why I now try to limit drinking from the information fire hydrant. Thanks for closing the circle on this post.

OK, on thin ice here, particularly since my own po...

2010-03-09T18:39:11.729-08:00

OK, on thin ice here, particularly since my own post fed the flames. But I am not as opposed to the war in Afghanistan as I was to the war in Iraq. Perhaps it's ideological blinders (my guy is now the POTUS), or maybe it's more than that.

The war in Iraq should never have happened. End of commentary on that.

The war in Afghanistan had more 'honest' roots (see Ken/Bucko's comment). But I agree that that's not enough. However, hellish though their job is (and INFINITELY more difficult than the job in Iraq), the U.S troops in Afghanistan MAY well make the world a safer place. Because the 21st century is a world in which bioterror and dirty bombs and jet planes and vulnerable targets like nuke plants and LPG terminals exist. And those are potent weapons and large targets for small groups of zealots; crazies which will always exist under one flag or another, or one faith or another. And in a world where an individual can travel the globe in a day, such nests of individuals must not be allowed to flourish, just as weeds must be addressed in the garden when small and vulnerable. So, failed states such as Afghanistan or Somalia are a problem. For everyone. By definition, they are unsupervised and thus uncontrolled.

So, Obama is rolling the dice with very long odds. Costing precious lives as a result. But if Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan can be modestly returned to the rule of law, it may indeed make the world a safer place.

Am I 100% on board? Absolutely not.

But I need to trust again. And he and his team are the best option I've had since.....

Ah Nance, sometimes the only thing to do is to tak...

2010-03-08T22:09:19.351-08:00

Ah Nance, sometimes the only thing to do is to take a break from thinking. As my Aunt Dorothy warns, "Too much thinking will make your head explode." I have no idea where she has witnessed this exploding head phenomena. Hobbes proposes that we ae in a constant state of war and what we mistake as peace is simply the absence of war, but it is not really peace, just a respite until the fighting resumes. All the ugly bits add up and wash over us in waves sometimes. I think that John Donne summed it up, "The death of any man diminishes me." I would not give up the ability to feel and I sense that you would not do so either, but there is a price to pay for fully being a part of all humankind. Be well, my friend.

Yes...There are "just" wars and then there are war...

2010-03-08T16:11:39.769-08:00

Yes...There are "just" wars and then there are wars of rationalization.
Our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is much like our involvement in Vietnam.
thanks for inviting my comment
A combat Marine veteran.

Thanks, Ken; you're right about the official goals...

2010-03-08T14:05:15.538-08:00

Thanks, Ken; you're right about the official goals. Freeing women from oppression and educating girls is hard to argue with, too, until I remember reading that illiteracy in Afghanistan is the norm for both sexes.

And then I read (Time Mag)of the experience of the troops as they try to train the Afghans toward our sensibilities: "..training Afghan police officers. Almost all the recruits were illiterate. 'They've had no experience at learning. You sit them in a room and try to teach them about police procedures — they start gabbing and knocking about. You talk to them about the rights of women, and they just laugh.'"

And I read in today's NYTimes that Karzai made a visit to Marja to speak with the newly "liberated" residents. "But residents made it painfully clear that his government was despised here for the corrupt, violent officials who preyed on Marja for much of the past decade before the Taliban arrived. In fact, residents say, the depredations of government officials here largely explain why the Taliban and their more effective administration of power and justice became so dominant in Marja in the first place."

I read these things and realize that it will take another decade in Afghanistan to realize our initial stated goals and the ones we've tacked on...subsequently and secondarily. And I think about that controversial July, 2011, troop withdrawal issue. I think about the DoD expenditures that threaten to bankrupt us. And the Deficit Reduction Commission, which is about to create a war on Medicare and Social Security. I think about all this and the fog thickens.

I can't send you sunshine, Nance, since your gloom...

2010-03-08T13:57:48.396-08:00

I can't send you sunshine, Nance, since your gloom is glomming over my way, too. We're all a little SAD here where we come to rely on the skies to brighten and lighten our load. And Afghanistan and murdered children and UC students in a military town embroiled in an ugly imbroglio.... sounds like a massage and a nap are called for.

Clarity is a fleeting blue sky in the eye of the storm; I'm grateful when I find it and am trying to be un-surprised when I don't. It seems that the older I get, the less I seem to really know.
a/b

The initial attack was to eliminate the Al Quada t...

2010-03-08T08:14:18.695-08:00

The initial attack was to eliminate the Al Quada training camps, with a secondary and subsequent mission to prevent the Taliban from taking over the country. The first endeavor is to combat terror, the second mission is to allow women freedom to work, to go to school, and to not be subjegated.

Sorry you're feeling quite blue. The news startle...

2010-03-08T07:22:56.488-08:00

Sorry you're feeling quite blue. The news startles me every morning. When will we protect our women and girls from these sick individuals. We need stronger laws. I was terribly upset by the young woman who was held a prisoner for 28 years. If this were happening to men would the laws and punishment change...probably.

Nance this is quite the post...I have to say since...

2010-03-07T23:13:51.471-08:00

Nance this is quite the post...I have to say since moving, I dont pay attn to regional events in the area. Heck I hardly know who the president is but i can tell you who ate what kind of nut butter on what kind of oats this morning in utah. Anyway, Amber. Some homeschooling friends knew her. And I know many who personally searched for her a year ago. And the parks in No. County were frequented many a time by Skylar and I and our homeschooling posse. Life is precious and short. Dear lord this was a post. Have a peaceful night Nance. It's miserably cold, rainy, windy, dreary and awful here too.

(1) UCSD: A group of dumb white frat guys hold an ...

2010-03-07T20:36:39.023-08:00

(1) UCSD: A group of dumb white frat guys hold an event called a “Compton Cookout.” This pisses people off as it used Black History Month as a reason to mock black people with racist stereotypes. Also involved is some idiot who tries to use this opportunity for shameless self-promotion, who also happens to be black. To say the least, the guy is basically a wannabe Flavor Flav.

(2) UCSD: Another dumb white frat guy gets mad that blacks are offended of being relegated to a bigoted stereotype. He tries to hold another racist event.

(3) UCSD: Meanwhile, a terrible student media publication (which, after viewing their website consists of all white staff, nudity, staff wrestling each other, and well, not much else), pushes their limits calling black students “ungrateful n—-” – not just that word, but also that apparently the black students owed them something. They have a reputation of being trashy, and at this point, administration and faculty rush to condemn racism by students of the campus and various protests begin. Funding is also cut from all student media at UCSD, creating an extra bitter controversy.

(4) UCSD: On Friday of that week, a noose is found in the library. Everything gets worked in a frenzy and – something I’ll address later – a large amount of white commenter’s on the internet begin claiming that is was probably a black student who planted it in order to gain more sympathy. In addition, there are rumors of a threatening note sent to the Guardian and a second noose, there was no second noose, and the threat seems to be just a rumor.

(5) UCSD: Protests basically happen at all schools in support of the students. There are various sit-ins, and teach-ins, and what have you. School administrators become pushed to be more active in fixing what’s going on.

I have not seen this noose person, but most of you blame her and conveniently forget wear this all originated.

Instead of an apology there has been steady escalation and now the noose. So, what exactly will the excuses be for this cowardly act that brings up memories of the confederate KKK of the South in their attempts to keep slavery and the non-whites in fear? Is it that are uneducated, is it that their parents planted these seeds of hate, is it that they are live in fear because our President in the white house is not 100% white. In my opinion this is what the small portions of the republican party of “birthers, baggers and blowhards” have brought you. These kids are good at “Follow the Leader” of their dullard leaders, they listen to Beck, Hedgecock, Hannity, O’Reilly, Rush and Savage and the rest of the Blowhards, they are young and dumb. Are you surprise at what they do when you know what they think? The world is complicated and most republicans (Hamiliton, Lincoln, Roosevelt) believe that we should use government a little to increase social mobility, now its about dancing around the claim of government is the problem. The sainted Reagan passed the biggest tax increase in American history and as a result federal employment increased, but facts are lost when mired in mysticism and superstition. Although most republicans are trying to distant themselves from this fringe they have a long way to go.

Hello Nance. Thank you for visiting my journal an...

2010-03-07T08:19:20.353-08:00

Hello Nance. Thank you for visiting my journal and for your comments. I think there are many irrational reasons for people to choose candidates. I don't know if it was anger or fear that caused people to say that they weren't going to vote for Dewey because of his mustache, way back then.

If fear or anger are the reasons then folks are voting against not for, most likely.

The Coffee Party sounds interesting although a bit reactionary. I will check it out. Thank you.

Our political system doesn't run smoothly. I think it was Churchill who said "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the rest." (Correct me if I have the wrong source.) But it does run if people will only participate in a rational, unemotional manner. Is that too much to ask?

DB

Wow - a voice of reason! That's encouraging to rea...

2010-03-05T10:37:31.666-08:00

Wow - a voice of reason! That's encouraging to read, I'll definitely follow them on Twitter as well. I really get that whole voter anger thing, we just elected the "guy with the pickup" in Massachusetts.

What killed me is he ran around hoisting a beer and saying "can you believe we are taxing your booze?" Well yeah, when you were in the MA legislature Scott, you voted for that. And PS, it's state tax, not a federal one, so you can't do anything about it as a Senator. But he is viewed as someone who can cut taxes. Not unless a miracle occurs and he becomes Jesus brokering deals across the Senate aisles!

Sarcasm is a sign of great wit. Just ask Shakespe...

2010-03-05T09:45:10.288-08:00

Sarcasm is a sign of great wit. Just ask Shakespeare. I love witty, sarcastic people who show me other sides of a subject through humor. P.S. Humor is also the ultimate path to knowledge. Just ask any well-read educator. My politics:
Reality Therapy. Actually it works with almost every aspect of life. Love your posts.
Mary

Please don't stop being snarky, Nance - I love dys...

2010-03-04T12:15:41.141-08:00

Please don't stop being snarky, Nance - I love dysrationalia as a concept - it's shorthand for "he doesn't agree with me even though I've proven it to him 1000 times."

As a wise woman wrote in a slightly different context, the Tea Parties seem to be "comfort food for the complacent"
a/b

Barry, I used the dysrationalia concept in a tongu...

2010-03-04T12:05:15.226-08:00

Barry, I used the dysrationalia concept in a tongue-in-cheek fashion; it's not a real learning or thinking disability, in the DSM-IV sense. I often use,misuse, and even abuse real diagnoses (or in this case, diagnosis wannabes) playfully, with a little disdain for the seriousness with which we take our as-yet paltry grasp of the intricacies of the human mind. For example, I might diagnose Sarah Palin as Borderline or Dick Cheney as Severe NOS with Strong B Traits...basically ill-defined, and therefore essentially meaningless, or controversial diagnoses that I don't have to substantiate. I do it because I can, because it's mean and fun and irresponsible. I'm really most-sincerely ashamed of myself. Really.

The authors of the research Herbert references are not the same folks as the guy who thought up dysrationalia.

Dear Reader, Lakoff has some excellent work on cognitive framing of social and political issues. For a good summary, go to http://www.wwcd.org/issues/Lakoff.html. Good thing he's on our side.

I will join the anti-dysrationalia coffee klatsch,...

2010-03-04T09:12:04.107-08:00

I will join the anti-dysrationalia coffee klatsch, but only if its goal is to throw eggs at any psychologist who abuses Latin by dreaming up a concept like dysrationalia. Instead, I urge everyone to seek out the online writings of George Lakoff, a cognitive scientist and linguist at UC Berkeley. Lakoff seems to have the clearest answers for why Republicans are wiping up the floor with Democrats: Republicans have learned how to "frame" issues in emotional terms. Reason is great for generating ideas, lousy for trying to sell them.

Realizing Sheria, your comments are in reference t...

2010-03-04T08:25:27.988-08:00

Realizing Sheria, your comments are in reference to the Tea Party Movement, my comments reference every day type anger, if you will. Anger is effective and rational for me. If I didn't get angry when a child is molested, as an example, or another, angry if someone were to mug and rob me, what would drive me to stop the harm or correct the wrong? I can usually find a fear behind the anger - a fear of another molestation, a fear of being violated again; the fear a road raged driver has put my life and others in jeopardy. It would be rational to avoid that driver; remove the perpetrator from the public. In other words, the actions we take based on that anger are the important part - will they protect us from further harm, prevent harm to another victim, allow us to diffuse poor or offensive behavior?

Drinking coffee was considered patriotic after the Boston Tea Party - no surprise there.

Herbert's analysis of the angry voter and the anxi...

2010-03-03T20:15:39.839-08:00

Herbert's analysis of the angry voter and the anxious voter makes perfect sense to me. I find anger to be a useless emotion; I'm ineffective when I'm angry because anger is irrational. "Revenge is a dish best served cold." Angry peopls also frighten me because they are unpredictable and will go to any means to achieve the ends that they irrationally believe to be desireable. The tea party is a scary group of people.

I think that the Coffee Party is a useful counterbalance although I think that they place too much empahsis on engaging in civil discourse with the tea party movement. Civil discourse and irrational beliefs just aren't a good match. However, I like the mission of the Coffee Party and I love the symbolism inherent in the name, Coffee Party. Coffee is the American morning beverage, not tea. I also like that the Coffee Party embraces diversity and that it has the vibrancy of youth. I think that it is a much needed voice to drown out the clamor of the tea party agenda.

I definitely suffer from dysratonalia per the defi...

2010-03-03T17:34:20.681-08:00

I definitely suffer from dysratonalia per the definition you posted. It is a personal affliction that has nothing to do with politics, any movements, culture or the American economy - well, maybe a little bit to do with the economy. Thanks for providing a description that I can identify with.

I had several absolutely brilliant thoughts while ...

2010-03-03T09:57:41.177-08:00

I had several absolutely brilliant thoughts while reading this (as usual) hysterical and verifiable and apt post.... but the cabal has been here, too, and they are gone.

Perhaps they are hiding with your Scientific American article?

I just don't have the energy I used to...and this ...

2010-03-03T08:36:11.543-08:00

I just don't have the energy I used to...and this impacts everything I do. I'm well after checking with my doctor. I think after 50 the I don't give a sh** factor kicks in. I still love life but my edge is gooonnnne

I'll have more to say later on your richly informa...

2010-03-03T07:35:07.530-08:00

I'll have more to say later on your richly informative essay, assuming of course I remember to, which suggests I should comment in some way right now, maybe not even letting punctuation intrude, so let me just say that if knee-bulge thingies figure with some, the sudden coming-into-being of what could be called a withering in the thighs of some men, absolutely not there yesterday but there today is worthy of note, plus not having read them, I still know I like the Stanford studies, studies that would seem to offer science-based support for Norman Mailer's contention that his brain in old age had come to resemble a swiss cheese, the superfluous parts replaced by holes, leaving only the good stuff.

Great post! I'm 69, or 70 by your method; either w...

2010-03-03T04:33:25.602-08:00

Great post! I'm 69, or 70 by your method; either way, it doesn't get better, but you do get used to it. Truth is, who needs memory when there is Google? And I feel that I'm brighter at this age than when I was 29. There are limitations but overall, I am brighter. Plus, if you look back in history, the 'elders' were always considered to be the wise one.