Psyberspace

I have been writing some paragraphs and adding them to my Autonomous psyche page. These snippets are beginning to describe a basic philosophy I have about the psyche. I wish I could get it together beyond snippets. Here is a quote from today’s effort.

There once was a hierarchy of being, and it was valued to “know one’s place” somewhere between God and mere dust. The way such a perception of the world has been used for control and to induce guilt is bad. However there is another side to the ancient idea which originates with Plato. We need to honour the fact that our birth circumstances are potent. We do not choose many aspects of our lives; we do not choose our genes, our culture, our birth geography or our sexuality.

O’Brien, Richard Creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

I just heard him interviewed by Kim Hill. So sad that these interviews are not available online. What an interesting man, and he grew up in NZ.

Mindjack – Interview – Warren Ellis Ellis writes comics, graphic novels, adult. Melanie McBride I have linked to before for her writing on McLuhan. I like the interview, and makes me want to read the books.

There is such a thing as truth. Non-relative, unassailable, valuable truth. Do not let people relativise the concept of truth into vapour.

Guardian Unlimited Observer | International | Gore Vidal claims ‘Bush junta’ complicit in 9/11

America’s most controversial writer Gore Vidal has launched the most scathing attack to date on George W Bush’s Presidency, calling for an investigation into the events of 9/11 to discover whether the Bush administration deliberately chose not to act on warnings of Al-Qaeda’s plans.

Even if the Bush junta was not complicit they have capitalised on it in all the ways that they would have if they were… and that is just as bad, and also reveals the bankruptcy of terrorism as a tactic.

Clarity, dedication, inspiration from RMS, as usual. His concern about language is often criticised by even those who support him, but I think he is right. “Piracy” for example is a propaganda word and we should never use it apart from its legal definition – raiding ships at sea, a serious crime.

In “Can You Trust Your Computer?” he tackles the propaganda use of the word “trusted” and distinguishes it from “treacherous”. It is a notion which we need to take on board. “We” of course are not “them” i.e. they who rule. They cant trust our computers, it is an issue that defines which side you are on. I hope this article becomes a classic and that people will adopt his usage.

Who should your computer take its orders from? Most people think their computers should obey them, not obey someone else. With a plan they call “trusted computing,” large media corporations (including the movie companies and record companies), together with computer companies such as Microsoft and Intel, are planning to make your computer obey them instead of you. Proprietary programs have included malicious features before, but this plan would make it universal.

Nice Bogg Interesting author: alex wright : projects
Thanks Josh.

Doonesbury Town Hall and Web Presence- Daily Dose

BarlowFriendz 8.8: Pox Americana

NYT

The speed of the antiwar mobilization has struck some longtime college presidents. “Students are engaging very, very quickly with Iraq,” said Nancy Dye, the president of Oberlin College. “This morning I was struck by a very large sign on top of an academic building, saying, `Say No to War in Iraq.’ A new student organization has gotten itself together, and I don’t even know if they have a name yet. There wasn’t anything like this during the first gulf war, when I was president at Vassar.”

Guardian

I hope we see some serious opposition there – strikes – demonstrations.