Succinct and resonant.
This comment gives me vaguely 'Hemingway' vibes. Nice.
'Wizard and Glass' is pretty great, Lisey's Story I think one could teach a class on the strength of the transitions in that book, 11/22/63 was awesome, 'Night Shift' is a strong early collection with what I thought was on balance his scariest story 'The Boogeyman' and a fun little story called 'Strawberry Spring' that I'm shocked hasn't been adapted into a fun little summer movie .... 'The Long Walk' (Hunger Games anyone?), -- The Talisman .... Fun stuff...
The Dark Tower books are pretty great; the last 3 feel a bit rushed....they were all written post-van incident and he sorta deviated from the organic 'rhythm' of publication and writing of the series he had been on, where he allowed a few years to pass between books until the book/story was 'ready' --- still; pretty great on-balance - definitely feel there'd be room if a major adaptation ever happens...to maybe have an even more satisfying conclusion
Healthy choice. -- Keeping body & mind fluid, healthy, strong.
"Not the odds but the stakes."
That's my shorthand for what we most need from election coverage in 2024. Not who has what chances of winning, but the consequences for our democracy. Not the odds, but the stakes.
Dan Rather on the horse race:
"A horse race confers an equivalence upon all candidates. The only detail that matters is who is going to win — not all that might be lost. To view America through that lens today is an exercise in the absurd."
https://steady.substack.com/p/the-danger-of-horse-race-politics
#uspol #journalism
Good share; thank you!
Classics.
Cheers to Art & Soul
When things get really chaotic or wild or uncertain - sometimes it really helps to dial down as much outside 'noise' as possible..and define your immediate objective...and depending on how gnarly things are in mind/body/world sometimes it can be like...'and now I put on my shoes' -- Break events and decisions and actions down into the next moment...if it was a tightrope....it's the placement of the next footstep on the highwire...
'Focus on where the next foot falls.' -- Make the very next step/choice...the best you can..informed by all the experience, talent, learning, insight that you've developed, acquired, cleaned -- and let all that is before that be...and all that is after it bide....take the next step in its time....do your best with it....and the rest will follow. Because in succession...they are the journey and the path..and eventually...you'll likely have found that you successfully walked the wire and made it to the other side.
You got this!
I think many religions have intriguing and even healthy and productive philosophies and ideas -that said, it's also just as obvious that religions are a product of man.
Short version of a thought. - The 'Christian' religious person must admit that it is possible for an individual to exist, and to be 100% certain in their faith/correctness...and yet that same person be simultaneously 100% incorrect. All the 'Christian' must do is acknowledge the fact that there are 'Muslims' with the same degree of conviction etc. -- You run the same line the other way... and you come to the conclusion that they are an exact mirror .... and they are both their best argument AND EVIDENCE ...that they are both correct and incorrect. Which is to say...in the above it is a certainty that an individual in a position of MAXIMUM faith ...can also be maximally wrong.
That above is a sort of prelude to a broad discussion with respect to why it seems a rather obvious thing that religions broadly are a creation of man..re seeking answers to shared unknowns..that are universal aspects of the human condition.
Leaving the factual/real-or-not aspect there's the social effect.
And I will say, that religion is an underrated aspect of some of the partisan and political gridlock today and I think one of the reasons why its so easy to spread and have an appreciable portion of various population adopt ideas and beliefs that...to a critical unbiased reasoned observer...are obviously false...like...blatantly.....super obvious.
In a discussion with a friend an idea/thought to illustrate the idea of the degree of cognitive dissonance/willful ignorance for some in this area:
'An individual with all senses in perfect working order. Walks into a 10'x10' room ...all the walls are painted white...and in the room there is a completely white table with two objects on it. The only objects with any color other than white. -- On the table is a Green Triangle, and a Blue Square. --- The objective/goal ...is to be able to correctly identify....which is which.'
THAT is the level of..... disconnect we've got -- where the above is impossible for some ie. 'flat earth' vibes ....
Anyway...circling back to your question.
Religion...establishes a life rhythm and convention that is strongly socially reinforced...where you go to a building...purpose built for it...you gather together....and typically some male dude...stands at the front of the room...and proceeds to break several laws of physics and in direct contraction to the evidence and data we experience and 'collect' every day.
Why this is 'not so desirable' -- is that you then have a situation where every Sunday...a n appreciable portion of the population..gathers together...and communally agrees to.....without critical thought or question; on faith....just believe/accept...what the guy at the front of the room says. Even if it is contrary to all available, detectable, experienced and measurable evidence.
THAT is dangerous. And it's part of the reason why its easy to get a good chunk of folks...vehemently behind...really destructive..and obviously incorrect or poor idea....and wouldn't ya know....if you look at the downstream outcome of alot of the bogus stuff folks are asked to support? ..... Typically ends up in garnering power or wealth to a very real....very HUMAN individual.
Then..we get to sit through the silly bit where this same crowd says they don't just go along with the crowd' ...when a Speaker of a House can't get elected for instance.
When the reality is...one of the greatest strengths of that voting block IS the power of having a giant group of people that - do not require evidence - they've got 'faith' -- and so on Sunday...a message goes from cable news --> pastors --> pews. No thought required! -- And boom 18% is vehemently ready to run out and tell their neighbors why 'Handmaids Tale' has some good points.... HA!
This perpetual state of irrationality, paradox, and cognitive dissonance is how we then see...folks talking all about Jesus stuff...but support precisely zero 'jesus type shit' .... and 'freedom' ...but ....can't smoke this, can't have sex with this person, etc etc.
This is of course...about control...by people that know very 'the game' ..that do not in any way 'believe' ...but they know they can acquire money and power....just gotta say the world...or hold the book up...even upside down. Don't even have to have read it...just be near it and say the things like you agree.
Then we wonder why our taxes, money, and politics are a mess...
Thank you for this example. - Super thoughtful idea, and sounds like it may be really productive and beneficial for body and mind.
This is true. -- And...in other news and contexts entirely.. Alvarez hit a left to sit Mendez. 1-1. --- Positive vibes friends. -- Math is fun and reading important.
Yeah, I think it's really just a short 60 sec youtube video away tbh -- Like: 'Hi! This is a client - you can generate key pairs with this! One you can post in public places! One you keep private. Private lets you access your account/profile/id from many different clients and apps to come. Think social media/podcasts/youtube/Web3-5/(TBA) -- You can expand the network of content you share to and see by adding friends and relays. Play with that. Be kind and have fun!' -- If you need to restart. Go ahead. Learning is good too. Kinda thing. -- With a brief mention of lightning wallet extension integration and options.