It is perhaps the most distinctive mark of the modernist that he never can imagine that his views are anything but revolutionary, even (or especially) when they are ubiquitous. Thus we have the amusing spectacle of a man sneering at ‘conformists’ while never straying an inch from the common assumptions of his own age and … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Perpetually Revolutionary
Modern Cluelessness
Thought of the Day: Materialist View of Origins of Life
The materialist view of the origins of life is one of those things that looks okay from a high-level, blurry view, but which turns utterly absurd once you examine it closer. Or perhaps not even that; just when you phrase it correctly. It seems to be that a chemical reaction became self-perpetuating and everything that’s … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Materialist View of Origins of Life
Smart Appliances are a Stupid Idea
Great post from David Stewart here about his experience moving into a house with a ‘smart’ thermostat and why ‘smart’ appliances are a stupid idea in general. Recommend reading the whole thing and the comments. Rudolph Harrier makes an excellent point in the latter: that smart appliances are not actually intended for convenience, they’re meant … Continue reading Smart Appliances are a Stupid Idea
Thought of the Day: Subsidiarity and Democracy
A representative government, however it starts, naturally expands. This is because the elected official's position is dependent on the majority of people voting for him. Therefore, he (or more often his party) is incentivized to offer them anything he can. If they have problems, he'll offer to solve them and try to make them as … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Subsidiarity and Democracy
‘Lovely People’
A friend put me onto this graphic novel / webcomic, all about the workings of a social credit system as experienced by a trio of bunnies. It's really quite well done and an excellent dissection of, well, just how horribly abusive such a system is or would be, and the power and dangers of horizontal … Continue reading ‘Lovely People’
Detective Philosophy at ‘The Everyman’
My latest essay (first in a little while) is now up at The Everyman, this one critiquing our tendency to insist that this, that, or the other fact 'doesn't matter' by applying the analogy of detective literature. I read a lot of detective fiction (I also write it, though I’ve written much less than I’ve … Continue reading Detective Philosophy at ‘The Everyman’
‘Uncharitable’ is the Preferred Term
Uh, X is actually considered an offensive term for Z-types. It’s okay for other Z-types to calls us that, but not for someone else to. Y is the preferred term. “Ah. Do you speak for all Z-types?” Well… “So, as I understand it, X is the most common term. It’s been in use for time … Continue reading ‘Uncharitable’ is the Preferred Term
A Digression on Mortgages and Race
Found this article at mpamag.com (my work website links to them, since it’s a mortgage company), which rather amused me in a dark way. I won't go through the whole thing, suffice to say it's about a new 'equitable housing plan' being put forward by Fannie Mae (one of the two major housing authorities) to … Continue reading A Digression on Mortgages and Race
Suicide and the Corporate World
I was looking up the American Federation for Suicide Prevention the other day (no, nothing personal; just curiosity). At the top of the page it urges “Demand More for Mental Health!” You know, I've often wondered: since mental health became a wide-spread industry back in the early-mid twentieth century, have suicide rates increased or decreased? … Continue reading Suicide and the Corporate World
Standard of Living
"The standard of living has never been higher." You hear this a lot, especially from conservatives. The average person has never been wealthier, never has lived longer, never has had so many conveniences and so few dangers. His jobs and homes are more comfortable. He has access to high-quality medical care. The poorest of the … Continue reading Standard of Living
Serpent's Den 