Do you hear Me? I don’t want you to kill anybody

God Angrily Clarifies ‘Don’t Kill’ Rule

“I’m talking to all of you, here!” continued God, His voice rising to a shout. “Do you hear Me? I don’t want you to kill anybody. I’m against it, across the board. How many times do I have to say it? Don’t kill each other anymore—ever! I’m fucking serious!” Upon completing His outburst, God fell silent, standing quietly at the podium for several moments. Then, witnesses reported, God’s shoulders began to shake, and He wept.

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Marc Smith MSR

Marc Smith is a Research Sociologist in the Collaborative and Multimedia Systems Group.

I focus on the research and design of social cyberspaces. In particular I am interested in the emergence of social organizations like communities in online environments and the resources groups need in order to cooperate productively.

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Project Gutenberg — Crome Yellow, by Aldous Huxley
I have been listening on a walkman to this novel. Full of ideas, some are insightful but sound preposterous in the plumb-in-the-mouth reading of the characters (they are all slightly absurd). I liked the suspense created around the meaning of a word, here is a quote:

“One suffers so much,” Denis went on, “from the fact that beautiful words don’t always mean what they ought to mean. Recently, for example, I had a whole poem ruined, just because the word ‘carminative’ didn’t mean what it ought to have meant. Carminative–it’s admirable, isn’t it?”
“Admirable,” Mr. Scogan agreed. “And what does it mean?”

His assumed meaning of inner glow after wine is shattered… and we are revealed the true meaning, first in german translation and also from the context. I checked it in Noah as I walked.

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Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | We won’t deny our consciences

We believe that people of conscience must take responsibility for what their own governments do – we must first of all oppose the injustice that is done in our own name. Thus we call on all Americans to resist the war and repression that has been loosed on the world by the Bush administration. It is unjust, immoral and illegitimate. We choose to make common cause with the people of the world.

This is interesting! I find it heartning to see this document, a rally cry! It has been hard to say that the US state is a rogue without it seeming anti-American or extreme, so good to see a bunch of decent Americans come out and say it forcefully. I am sure many have said it and there may have been other declarations – but this one seems like it will have persuasion. Where can others sign up?

How did I hear about it? blogdex

Halfway between the poem and the paramecium

The dream is halfway between the poem and the paramecium. Like the paramecium, it is a product of nature, created not by man’s will. But like the poem, it is a product of art, dependent upon man’s imagination.

-James Hillman

Words, like angels, are powers which have invisible power over us.
– James Hillman